| IJOMEH
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Current website - http://ijomeh.eu
| Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ Health 2008;21(1):83-83 |
| DOI 10.2478/v10001-0007-0041-1 |
| OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA DUE TO MANGANESE EXPOSURE: A CASE REPORT |
| TOMASZ WITTCZAK, WOJCIECH DUDEK, ANNA KRAKOWIAK, JOLANTA WALUSIAK, CEZARY PAŁCZYŃSKI |
Abstract
Manganese belongs to a group
of agents called “transitional metals” that are known to induce occupational
asthma. However, well-documented cases of manganese-induced asthma have been
lacking thus far. We have discussed a case of a 42-year-old non-smoking welder with
work-related dyspnoea. A number of clinical procedures were performed including
clinical examination, routine laboratory tests, total serum IgE, skin prick
tests to common aeroallergens and manganese nitrate, resting spirometry test,
histamine challenge, and a single-blind, placebo-controlled specific inhalation
challenge with 0.1% manganese chloride solution. Clinical findings and laboratory
test results remained normal but a significant bronchial hyperreactivity was
found. During the specific inhalation challenge, dyspnoea and a significant decrease
in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) were observed. An increased proportion of
eosinophils and basophils in induced sputum could also be noted at 4 and 24 h
after the challenge. The argument for recognizing the condition as occupational
asthma was a positive clinical response to the specific challenge test as well
as the morphological changes found in induced sputum. To our knowledge, this is
the first well-documented case of manganese-induced occupational asthma.
Key words
Manganese, Occupational asthma, Bronchial challenge
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