J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL

VOLUME 133, NUMBER 2

Abstracts AB151

SUNDAY

528 Component Resolved Diagnosis In Baker's AsthmaMs. Cristina G�omez-Casado1, Dr. Paloma Campo, MD,

PhD2, Dr. Maria Garrido, PhD3, Ms. C. Pereira4, Dr. Arantxa

Palacin, PhD1, Dr. La Rivas4, Dr. M. Catarino5, Dr. Ana Aranda, PhD6,

Maria Luisa Macias6, Dr. Alicia Armentia, MD, PhD7, Dr. S.

Quirce, MD, PhD8, Dr. Miguel Blanca, MD, PhD2, Araceli Diaz Perales1;1Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (UPM-INIA), Madrid,

Spain, 2Allergy Service, Carlos Haya Hospital, M�alaga, Spain, 3Plant

Biotechnology Institute (UPM-INIA), Madrid, Spain, 4Molecular Evolu-

tion Laboratory, Astrobiology Centre (INTA-CSIC), Madrid, Spain, 5Fac-

ulty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, 6Research

Laboratory, Carlos Haya Hospital-FIMABIS, M�alaga, Spain, 7ValladolidUniversity, Valladolid, Spain, 8Hospital La Paz Institute for Health

Research (IdiPaz), Allergy department., Madrid, Spain.

RATIONALE: Subjects with baker’s asthma recognize several allergens

identified in the water/salt-soluble fraction of wheat flour. The aim of our

study was to characterize the allergenic profiles of baker’s asthma patients

from three different regions in Spain by using a panel of wheat allergens

purified from natural sources and printed on a protein microarray.

METHODS: Forty five patients from 3 regions in Spain (Madrid n517,

Malaga n510, Valladolid n518) with a consistent history of baker’s

asthma, positive results to skin-prick test and bronchial challenge with

wheat flour were recruited. Twelve wheat allergens (WDAI-0.19 and

WDAI-0.53, WTAI-CM1, WTAI-CM2,WTAI-CM3,WTAI-CM16,WTAI-

CM17, Tri a 14, profilin, v-5-gliadin, Tri a Bd 36 and Tri a TLP) were

purified and applied on epoxy-activated glass using a MicroGrid II TAS

arrayer. The IgE binding of each allergen spot was calculated as the final

fluorescence intensity, measured by GenePixTM software. The Ethics

Committee of each hospital approved the study.

RESULTS: WTAI-CM16 and Tri 14 were defined as the most prevalent

allergens (54 and 45% on average, respectively) covering a total of 64% of

the baker’s asthma population. On the other hand, v-5-gliadin and Tri a

Bd36 were recognized by less than 10% of the baker’s population.

CONCLUSIONS: The highest prevalence of IgE binding was observed

forWTAI-CM16 and Tri a 14, sincemore than 60%of patients with baker’s

asthma recognized at least one of these markers.

529 Endotoxin Exposure May Protect Against The Development OfRhinoconjunctivitis and Respiratory Symptoms In Non-AtopicIndividuals With Occupational Exposure To Mice

Dr. Sharon K. Ahluwalia, MD1,2, Dr. Roger Peng, PhD3, Mr. Charles

Aloe, MPH2, Wayne G. Shreffler, MD, PhD, FAAAAI4,5, Mary

Krevans, RN6, Karol A. Hagberg, BSN, FNP6, Dr. Peter S.

Thorne, PhD7, Kenneth Walsh8, Dr. Elizabeth Matsui, MD9; 1Children’s

National Medical Center, Washington, DC, 2Johns Hopkins University

School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 3Johns Hopkins School of Public

Health, Baltimore, MD, 4Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA,5Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 6The Jackson Laboratory, Bar

Harbor, ME, 7University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 8The Jackson Labora-

tories, ME, 9The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Balti-

more, MD.

RATIONALE: Endotoxin exposure is associated with the development of

respiratory symptoms in individuals with occupational mouse exposure. It

is unknown whether atopic status modifies this relationship.

METHODS: Adults (18-74y) newly employed in a mouse facility were

enrolled. Participants were skin prick tested (SPT), administered ques-

tionnaires about rhinoconjunctival and respiratory symptoms, and wore

personal monitors for collection of breathing zone air samples every 6

months. Mus m 1 (MA) and endotoxin (ET) content in air samples were

quantified by ELISA and limulus amebocyte assay, respectively. Atopy

was defined as >_1 +SPT (net wheal >_3mm). Relationships between MA

exposure, ET exposure, and incident symptoms were examined using Cox

proportional hazards models adjusted for age, gender, total serum IgE

level, level of education, smoking status, and respiratory protection usage.

RESULTS: 193 participants were enrolled. 54% were female, and 52%

were atopic. Median MA and ET concentrations were 1.4 ng/m3 and 3.2

EU/m3, respectively, and MA and ET were correlated (rs 0.41, p<0.001).

Median follow-up time was 24 months, and 38 participants developed

symptoms. In a model adjusting for ET, MA exposure was associated

with developing symptoms (crude HR [95% CI]: 1.58[1.08-2.31],

p50.02). Increasing endotoxin exposure was associated with lower risk

of developing symptoms among non-atopic (0.09 [0.02-0.42], p50.002),

but not atopic participants (2.16[0.53- 8.77], p50.28; interaction p50.02).

CONCLUSIONS: Both the level of MA exposure and the level of ET

exposure influence the development of upper and lower respiratory

symptoms among individuals with occupational exposure to mouse.

Endotoxin exposure may be protective for non-atopic individuals.

530 Sensitization To Occupational Allergens and AllergicDiseases In Workers Of 5 Havana Bakeries

Dr. Mirta Alvarez, MD1, Dr. Alexis Labrada, PhD2, Raul Lazaro Castro

Almarales, MD3, Mrs. Yaquel�ın Leyva1, Mr. Victor R. Meli4, Dr.

Humberto Barata4, Dr. Miguel Hinojosa5; 1Calixto Garc�ıa University Hos-

pital, Cuba, 2National Center of Bioproducts, Havana, Cuba, 3National

Center of Bioproducts, Cuba, 4Diater Laboratories, Argentina, 5Ramon

y Cajal Hospital, Spain.

RATIONALE: Bakers are a professional group at risk of developing

occupational allergic diseases. There are several allergens that may

sensitize them, especially wheat flour and dust mites, which are present

in their workplace. Our objectives were to identify the frequency of

sensitization to dust mites and occupational allergens in 80 workers at

Havana’s bakeries, and to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases in

these workers.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out. The study

group included 80 workers of 5 Havana’s bakeries, mean age 37 (range 18-

67 years). For each subject, a clinical and occupational history was

compiled and skin testing was performed.

RESULTS: 86% subjects showed a positive response to at least one

allergen by SPT. 46,3% of workers reported allergic diseases and 18,8%

current symptoms, mostly, respiratory symptoms. The highest percentage

of positivity was reported toD. farinae (61.3%), as well as the largest wheal

size (mean 4.6 mm). 42.5% of workers showed positive response to wheat.

A significant association (Spearman, p<0.05) was found between the

reaction size to wheat, yeast and soy, respective to both storage and house

dust mites.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of respiratory diseases and

sensitization to mites and wheat flour in bakers, which represents a risk

factor to consider for their occupational safety.