PMID- 11886950
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20020415
LR  - 20190503
IS  - 1351-0711 (Print)
IS  - 1470-7926 (Electronic)
IS  - 1351-0711 (Linking)
VI  - 59
IP  - 3
DP  - 2002 Mar
TI  - Detection of workers sensitised to high molecular weight allergens: a diagnostic 
      study in laboratory animal workers.
PG  - 189-95
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine whether results from questionnaires, exposure 
      measurements, and laboratory tests, commonly used in occupational health 
      practice, can predict the presence or absence of sensitisation in workers exposed 
      to high molecular weight (HMW) allergens. The study aims to develop and validate 
      a diagnostic rule to predict sensitisation in laboratory animal workers. The main 
      reason for such research is efficiency. METHODS: Baseline data from 551 
      laboratory animal workers participating in an ongoing cohort study, bridging a 
      period of 3 years, were used for diagnostic research. Data from 472 workers 
      participating in the study during the first period were used to develop a 
      prediction rule; these workers represented the derivation set. Data from 79 
      workers, participating during the second period, were used to evaluate the rule's 
      performance--the validation set. Serum samples were analysed for specific 
      immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against common and laboratory animal allergens. 
      Questionnaire items, exposure determinants, IgE serology, skin prick tests 
      (SPTs), and lung function tests were analysed, corresponding to diagnostic 
      investigation, in a multiple logistic regression model. The accuracy of the model 
      was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and by 
      comparison of the predicted and observed prevalences. RESULTS: Asthmatic 
      symptoms, (work related) allergic symptoms, sex, occupational exposure to rats, 
      and a positive SPT to common allergens, showed the best performance in 
      discriminating workers at high or at low risk of being sensitised. CONCLUSION: 
      High and low risk categories for work related sensitisation can be distinguished 
      from simple questionnaire data and SPT results. The method can easily be applied 
      in occupational medical practice and may markedly increase the efficiency of 
      occupational health surveillance in laboratory animal workers as well as other 
      workers exposed to HMW allergens.
FAU - Meijer, E
AU  - Meijer E
AD  - Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Environmental and 
      Occupational Health, Utrecht University, PO Box 80176, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The 
      Netherlands. e.meijer@IRAS.uu.nl
FAU - Grobbee, D E
AU  - Grobbee DE
FAU - Heederik, D
AU  - Heederik D
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - England
TA  - Occup Environ Med
JT  - Occupational and environmental medicine
JID - 9422759
RN  - 0 (Allergens)
RN  - 37341-29-0 (Immunoglobulin E)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Allergens/*adverse effects/blood
MH  - Animals
MH  - *Animals, Laboratory
MH  - Cohort Studies
MH  - Female
MH  - Forced Expiratory Volume/physiology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*diagnosis
MH  - Immunoglobulin E/blood
MH  - Male
MH  - *Medical Laboratory Personnel
MH  - Molecular Weight
MH  - Netherlands/epidemiology
MH  - Occupational Diseases/*diagnosis
MH  - Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects
MH  - Risk Factors
MH  - Vital Capacity/physiology
PMC - PMC1763629
EDAT- 2002/03/12 10:00
MHDA- 2002/04/16 10:01
PMCR- 2005/03/01
CRDT- 2002/03/12 10:00
PHST- 2002/03/12 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2002/04/16 10:01 [medline]
PHST- 2002/03/12 10:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2005/03/01 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 10.1136/oem.59.3.189 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Occup Environ Med. 2002 Mar;59(3):189-95. doi: 10.1136/oem.59.3.189.