Abstract
Total cases of fatal asthma in the occupational setting reported in the literature are reviewed and the case of a 39-year-old foundry worker who died at work is described. A diagnosis of occupational asthma induced by diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) had been assessed 5 years in advance through a 0.005 ppm exposure inhalation challenge. Postmortem microscopic examination of the lung showed epithelial desquamation, eosinophilic/neutrophilic infiltration of the mucosa, dilatation of bronchial vessels, edema, hypertrophy and disarray of smooth muscle. Fatal asthma attack in a MDI-sensitized individual, to our knowledge, has not been previously described.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 111-113 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Respiration |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Jan 1997 |
Keywords
- Asthma mortality
- Fatal outcome
- Isocyanates
- Occupational asthma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine