J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2003 Mar;23(1):90-94.

Occupational asthma induced by cephalosporin precursor

• Min TH
• Cho DS
• Kwon NH
• Lee BW
• Kang BH
• Son JS
• Shin SY
• Ha KW
• Lee BJ
• Choi DC

Abstract

A 41-year-old male pharmaceutical worker developed dyspnea and wheezing 10 years after beginning the work. He had handled powder of cephalosporin precursor, 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA). He had suffered from dyspnea, chest tightness and wheezing in the workplace for the last three years. Recently, these symptoms were aggravated. His pulmonary function test showed severe obstructive pattern and PC(20) was 0.06 mg/ml on MBPT(methacholine bronchial provocation test). Skin prick test and intradermal test showed positive reactions to ceftriaxone, cefazolin, etc. During the skin test, he suffered from an asthmatic attack and anaphylactic shock. Bronchial provocation test with cefotiam elicited a dual asthmatic reaction. We presumed that IgE-mediated mechanism may be mainly involved in the pathogenesis of cephalosporin induced occupational asthma, in addition to other immunologic or non-immunologic mechanisms. Further studies will be necessary to investigate the pathogenesis of this disease.

Keyword

occupational asthma; cephalosporin

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anaphylaxis
Asthma, Occupational*
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Cefazolin
Cefotiam
Ceftriaxone
Dyspnea
Humans
Intradermal Tests
Male
Respiratory Function Tests
Respiratory Sounds
Skin
Skin Tests
Thorax
Cefazolin
Cefotiam
Ceftriaxone