Pulmonary & Respiratory Sciences - Juniper Publishers
Abstract
Objective: It is recommended to monitoring PEFR to diagnosing OA. Gold standard method is SIC test. The aim of this study is to evaluate comparison of SIC test results in patients with OA and non-OA and to discuss PEFR monitoring and underdiagnosed.
Materials and Methods: 24 patients (16 OA, 8 non-OA) who underwent SIC test were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: Although number of patients exposed to LMW (wood powders [n: 5]) was higher, IgE level was found significantly higher at OA (697.39 ± 839.36 kU/ml) (p: 0.027). Average PEFR monitoring days mean was 26.53±12.90.13 patients who diagnosed with OA with SIC was evaluated PEFR monitoring results were negative [%92.86]. Minimum FEV1 value on exposure day was lower in OA (p:0.001).
Conclusion: We detected underdiagnosed cases rates were higher with diagnosing OA with PEFR monitoring alone. Our study also demonstrated that LMW agents cause immunological OA, independently from agent type and duration of exposure.
Keywords: Occupational asthma; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Specific Inhalation Challenge Test; Pneumoconiosis; Non-smokers
Abbreviations: OA: Occupational Asthma; RAST: Radioallergosorbent Test; LMW: Low Molecular Weight; HMW: High Molecular Weight; SPT: Skin Prick Test; SIC: Specific Inhalation Challenge; PEFR: Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
Main points
I. The specific etiological agent is difficult to detect in OA.
II. The gold standard method for diagnosing occupational asthma and identify exposure agent is specific bronchial provocation test.
III. PEFR monitoring cannot detect the agent responsible for OA.
Introduction
OA has become the second most common occupational lung disease after pneumoconiosis in the developing countries [1]. About 10-25% of adult-onset asthma cases are caused by occupational exposures [2]. More than 200 specific agents encountered at work can cause asthma [3]. It is recommended that occupational asthma should be suspected in every newly diagnosed adult asthma [4]. As opposed to the conventional diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, which is based only on the history of exposure and chest radiograph abnormalities, OA should be confirmed by objective means. The most important step to diagnosing OA is to take a detailed occupational exposure history. It follows by tests that will determine the relationship between the agent and the disease. It is difficult to detect the exposure agent that is cause asthma and/or establish direct causal relationship between the suspected occupational exposure agent and asthma.
The most expanded method to diagnosing OA is Peak Expiratory Flow Rate monitoring [5]. Specificity and sensitivity of PEF monitoring is lower than SIC test [6,7]. Changes in at work and away from work may show the presence of airflow limitation due to the workplace exposures. This method has some handicaps. PEFR is affected by the respiratory effort and the results are independent of a technician, requiring the collaboration of the worker. Therefore, monitoring PEF may allow for differentiating any overestimated or underestimated results from each other, however, it may be misused in regard to the issues associated with job loss or compensation [8].
Specific inhalation challenge test is currently recognized as the gold standard methods to diagnose OA. However, negative SIC test does not exclude OA. As all occupational diseases, accurate diagnosing OA constitutes the basis of curative treatment by removing the patient from the agent. Due to the medico-legal obligation, workers' disability and compensation rights, the most accurate methods should be used for diagnosing OA [9,10]. The diagnosis of OA should follow evidence-based guidelines. It should be remembered that negative test results do not exclude OA [11]. The aim of this study is to evaluate the comparison of SIC test results in patients with occupational and non-occupational asthma and to discuss PEFR monitoring and miss-diagnosis.
Materials and Methods
24 patients who underwent SIC test at the X University Hospital Department of Occupational Diseases between July-December 2019 were analyzed. The study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study. X University Hospital Institutional review board approval was obtained with 18 March-2021/718 decision/protocol number.
Data Collection
Patients who were previously diagnosed with asthma by a physician and had asthmatic symptoms related to exposures at work environment and who were referred to our occupational disease’s clinic with suspicion of work-related asthma were included in the study. Twenty-four patients who had a history of one or more specific exposure agents thought to cause asthma at the work environment and were performed with SIC and completed the test were included. Patients with a history of childhood asthma or asthma prior contact with the workplace exposure agent were excluded.
Specific Inhalation Challenge Test is carried out by an experienced occupational disease specialist physician who trained on Specific Inhalation Challenge Test. SIC test is performed at the hospital in a laboratory that is included an enclosed, dust and gas leak-proofed, air-fed, and well-aspirated cabin (Figure 1 and 2). Test records were accessed from the SIC test laboratory archive, and demographic information, radiological and laboratory records were accessed from hospital database named as ‘Akgun’. Previous spirometric tests and methacholine bronchial provocation tests records were obtained from the hospital's Pulmonary Function Test unit. Hemogram, total IgE and Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and specific IgE antibodies were examined in the hospital admissions of cases with suspected occupational asthma. These records were also accessed from the hospital database.
Brinkman index and non-smoker definition
The number of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years of smoking was calculated. The definition of non-smokers was those who smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes during their lifetime.
Performing SIC Test
Specific inhalation challenge test is performed using the realistic method in a 7m3 cabin, as previously described [12-14]. The realistic approach aims to mimic the work environment as much as possible. For example, a baker is asked to toss flour from one tray to the other to produce airborne particles. This approach for performing SIC test has been shown to be safe and rarely induce severe asthmatic reactions requiring administration of systemic steroids [15]. The concentrations of the agents generated during the SIC test procedures were not quantified. Asthma medications were withdrawn according to their duration of action [16].
On the first day, the subjects were exposed to a ‘‘control’’ agent for 30 minutes to ensure that FEV1 fluctuations were 20% fall in FEV1 occurred or a cumulative exposure of 2 hours on the same day was completed. Those subjects who did not demonstrate a >_20% fall in FEV1 during the first active challenge day systematically completed a second challenge for a maximum of 2 to 3 hours on the following day. Additional challenges were proposed when there was a significant [>3-fold] decrease in the post-challenge PC20 value [17] was found as compared with the control day values [18]. ASIC test was considered positive when a reproducible fall in FEV1 of 20% or more as compared to pre-challenge value was recorded.
Recording PEFR at work and away from work
Using a portable peak flow meter, patients were asked to measure PEF rates in sets of three repetitions, every two hours or at least four times per a day [the best measurement for each was recorded on a chart] for 15 days at rest, and 15 days at work. Occurrence of 20% diurnal PEF variability in at least 2/3 of working days and maximum 1/7 of resting days and worsening in PEF values in work vs. off work periods were considered to favor OA. Patents record their results at a daily card [14,19].
Statistical Analysis
Variables were analyzed with SPSS-15 version program. Numerical variables that had homogeneous distribution analyzed with t-test, and categorical variables analyzed with chi-square test. Non-homogeneous variables analyzed with nonparametric tests. While comparing the control day numeric variables to exposure day numeric variables, ANOVA test was performed.
Results
Demographics of patients
A total of 24 patient files (Male: 21/ Female: 3) were reviewed. The mean age was 41.8 ± 4.11 years, the mean exposure period was 142.5 ± 109.39 months, and the mean time to onset of symptoms after starting work was 77.1 ± 87.7 years. Twenty-five percent (n = 6) of the patients had current smoking history and the mean of Brinkman index was 251.75 ± 236.98. 15 patients had history of using CS and the mean of CS dosage was 427.5 mcg. LMW agent exposure were 70.83 % (n = 17) of them. 66.66 % (n = 16) had positive reaction to aeroallergens in SIC test and diagnosed with OA. One patient who had borderline negative SIC was diagnosed with detecting 3 times fold in PC20 after the exposure. The majority of the patients were carpenter (n = 5) and baker (n = 5). Predicted FEV1 and FEV1/FVC means were 83.58 ± 22.42 % and 81.33 ± 5.63 %, respectively. Except for two patients, 22 patients had at least 3 weeks PEF recording and only two patients had positive PEFR monitoring. Duration of PEFR monitoring mean was found 24.61 ± 11.69 days.
Comparison of OA and non-OA
Twenty-four patients who underwent SIC test and 66.66 % (n = 16) were diagnosed with OA. Although the number of patients exposed to LMW was higher in OA Group, total IgE level was higher in this group (OA total IgE: 697.39 ± 839.36 kU/ml; non-OA total IgE 90.33 ± 108.27 kU/ml) (p: 0.0279. All cases in the non-OA Group had exposure to LMW agents (n = 8). Patients diagnosed with OA had respiratory symptoms and 50 % (n = 8) of them had conjunctivitis and 25 % (n = 4) had rhinitis. There was no significant relationship between two groups with duration of exposure (p: 0.973) (Table 1).
Patients diagnosed with OA had only one patient positive PEFR monitoring. The average number of PEFR monitoring days of patients diagnosed with OA with the SIC test was 26.53 ± 12.90. The 92.86 % (n = 13) patients who diagnosed with OA with SIC test was evaluated PEFR monitoring results were negative. The predicted FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio was lower in patients diagnosed with OA than in patients with non-OA (p: 0.026; p: 0.039). Although minimum FEV1 value at the end of the exposure day was lower in OA group than non-OA group (OA minimum FEV1: 2.28 ± 0.54 ml; non-OA minimum FEV1: 3.26 ± 0.70ml (p:0.001) (Table 1). The peripheral blood neutrophil count was higher in non-OA (p: 0.039) (Table 2), but there were no differences between the peripheral cell counts in control-exposure days and the groups (Table 3). In OA Group 75 % (n = 12) had immediate reaction. Comparison of exposure type with FEV1 on control and exposure days in patients diagnosed with OA was statistically significant for both LMW (Low Molecular Weight) and HMW (High Molecular Weight) agents. But we could not find relationship between the type of exposure agent and peripheral blood neutrophil and eosinophil counts during the performing SIC test (Table 4).
Discussion
Nowadays, PEFR monitoring is widely used to diagnose OA when SIC test is not accessible. Although negative SIC test could not completely exclude OA, PEFR monitoring at work and away from work causes serious concerns about the sensitivity. In our study, we found that the PEFR variability was negative in the SIC test positive patients except for one (92.86%).
Occupational asthma diagnosis is made by history and objective evidence of reversible airway obstruction. A detailed medical and exposure history is critical in the diagnosis of OA. The history should include a detailed assessment of the workplace environment, the work process, changes in symptoms in and away from work, associated dermatological or upper respiratory symptoms, and a review of relevant material safety data sheets that provide clues regarding exposure and the potential causes. Although the patients were not observed in the working environment, the agents they were exposed to and causing respiratory complaints could be identified with a detailed occupational history, in our study. It was determined that exposure to LMW agent was the highest. With the detailed medical history, we found that respiratory symptoms were accompanied by rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
It is known that Skin Prick Test (SPT), total IgE or radioallergosorbent test (RAST) alone is not sufficient to show respiratory sensitizer or to confirm OA. Bardy et al. showed that SPT / RAST tests, positive and negative predictive values for psyllium were 22%/16% and 100%/100%, respectively [20]. Although these tests are helpful methods in diagnosis, their standardization is insufficient for many antigens [21]. Nevertheless, IgE plays a key role in asthma pathogenesis. In our study, we found that the total IgE level was significantly higher in patients with OA compared to non-OA. Similar to the Woszczek et al. detected relationship between asthma and high total IgE level [22], we showed that the total IgE level is higher in OA.
Asthma that occurs with HMW agents mostly induces IgE mediated responses. Wheat flour specific IgE was found positive in 6.5% of 392 bakers exposed to wheat flour, and it was found that associated with respiratory symptoms [23]. IgE-mediated responses in workers exposed to wheat are associated with work-related symptoms. Serum-specific IgE against wheat flour can be a potential biomarker to identify asymptomatic sensitized workers or to predict the phenotype of baker's asthma. Even though the specific IgE against wheat flour is thought to have diagnostic value, it is unknown for the other HMW allergens such as rye flour, enzymes, or fungi.
In our study, although the total IgE level was found significantly higher in patients with OA than in non-OA patients, when the total IgE level was compared with HMW and LMW agents. Also, there was no significant difference between job tasks and total IgE in patients with OA or non-OA. Also, we could not find relationship between the changes peripheral blood eosinophil counts in control and exposure days and two groups. Therefore, our study supported that high total IgE level alone cannot be used in the diagnosis of OA. One of the limitations of our study was induced sputum cell counts, RAST or SPT was not applied to every patient who underwent SIC test.
PEF is a portable and cost-effective device that it is widely used by physicians to diagnose occupational asthma. Ideal PEFR monitoring is performed with measurements every 2 hours for at least 2 weeks at work and at least 2 weeks away from work. It is recommended to take at least 4 measurements in a day. Moore et al. reported that recording PEFR for 8 days at work and 3 days away from work with the least eight times in a day, the sensitivity was 68% and the specificity was 91 % [24]. While PEFR monitoring was performed, it is recommended that subjects allowed to use short-acting beta-2 agonists and inhaled steroids. It is known that false-positive PEF variability was related to reducing or discontinuing inhaled steroids. It is also shown that using steroids does not change the result of SIC TEST.
We found that patients who were performed with SIC test and followed-up with PEFR, was continued with the same dose steroid. Interestingly, it was detected that in OA group steroid dose was significantly higher than in non-OA group. This result suggests that use of high-dose steroids does not change the result of SIC.
PEF results are recorded by the employees, and it may cause inconsistency in the records. Records reliability affects the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of PEFR monitoring results. It was observed that performing PEF less than 2.5 weeks or 4 times in a day was decreased the sensitivity and specificity [25]. Our study was shown that PEF monitoring periods [duration of monitoring PEFR mean = 26.53 ± 12.90days] were performed based on suggesting literature and as well as Turkey Social Security Institution.
The most reliable analysis method for PEFR records is computer packages programs. OASYS is the most commonly used program that is developed by Gannon et al. [26-28] Mccoach at al. reported that using a computer program was affected relevant PEFR monitoring, and they showed sensitivity was 75% and specificity was 94% [29]. Annes W et al. reported that while PEF measurements recorded by employees, the compliance of the PEFR monitoring was found %6, and if a respiratory physiologist was made it was increased %15. They were also shown the quality of PEFR records is best when recorded on dedicated diary cards [30]. Due to the retrospective study in our study was not used computer packages PEFR monitoring programs. It was the limitation of our study. Nevertheless, in our clinic PEFR monitoring is trained by a physician and given to subjects dedicated diary cards.
A study was determined that 56% of the patient's made sufficient PEF measurements while made themselves, and this rate increased to 85% in the measurements made by the patients at the hospital [31]. Nevertheless, as in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to use PEF device while using compulsory respiratory protective equipment, and perform PEF in the workplace, and also part-time workers have difficulty to performing and analyzing their records [32]. All these factors affect the reliability of PEF. Although there are assertive studies to successful method to diagnosing OA [33,34]. there are not few studies showing that it is inadequate to diagnosing and determining the specific agent [14,35]. Nevertheless, the PEFR monitoring method is suggested for patients who cannot SIC due to severe asthma and FEV1 below 70%, and if the agent causing asthma cannot be detected or presence multiple exposure agents [36].
Specific Inhalation Challenge Testis accepted as the reference and gold standard test all over the world to confirm and diagnose OA [37,38]. This method, which aims to mimic workplace exposures in hospital at a laboratory, and it can also perform at workplace. The SIC test is safe when performed under the close supervision of a qualified doctor and by trained personnel. Resuscitative measures should be easy to available. Therefore, it is limited to specialist centers. Although there is no standardized protocol, the methodology is well developed [39]. The test can be easily applied to outpatients. A European task force reported that SIC testing could be performed in 24 centers from 12 countries in Europe [40,41]. Our SIC test laboratory is the first unit offering services in the Department of Occupational Diseases in Turkey which is established on the basis of international standards (Figure 1 and 2).
Patients may not know what agents were used at work. It is suggested more information should be obtained from management safety data sheets in the workplace [14]. Sozener et al. reported that obtaining information about exposure from patients and that neither safety data sheets nor workplace inspection documents were included in the referral files sent by the social security institution [42]. Failure to specify the exposure agent with the disease may cause problems with medico-legal procedures. Therefore, it can be said that SIC test is a more reliable diagnostic method than PEFR monitoring to show a direct relationship between exposure agents and asthma. In addition, PEF monitoring is not suitable to diagnose patients who have left their jobs. Another limitation of PEF is that it causes false OA diagnosis due to the 'morning dip' effect in the PEFR measurements performed after the workers wake up late in their resting periods due to the change in PEFR measurements due to circadian rhythm and diurnal rhythm [43, 44]. As emphasized before, it is recommended that diagnosing OA with monitoring PEFR is while there are difficulties to access SIC test and there are multiple workplace exposures.
Conclusion
PEF monitoring is insufficient to diagnose OA. In order to differentiate work-related asthma from general asthma and to make an accurate diagnosis, the employee should be referred to a specialist center where the SIC test is performed. SIC is the most objective test performed in the workplace or in the laboratory for medico-legal reasons such as ensuring the termination of exposure, which is the most effective treatment method, and the lack of loss of rights in compensation procedures.
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