Non-eosinophilic occupational asthma due to exposure of merbau and bangkirai wood.

• Main Authors: Ida Bagus Ngurah Rai, Ketut Suryana, I Gusti Bagus Ngurah Artana, Ida Ayu Jasminarti Dwi Kusumawardani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: DiscoverSys 2017-05-01
• Series: Bali Medical Journal
• Subjects: non-eosinophilic, asthma, merbau, bangkirai
• Online Access: https://balimedicaljournal.org/index.php/bmj/article/view/617

<p><strong>Objectives</strong>: To evaluate association between wood dust exposure and occupational asthma, and investigate immunopathogenesis behind the disease by examining IgE, CD4, and eosinophil level.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: Subjects diagnosed with occupational asthma using Work Related Asthma Questionnaire and PEFR variability for two weeks. Wood dust exposure measured by personal dust sampler for two days during working time.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Among 104 samples, 17 % diagnosed with occupational asthma. Analysis showed that there were correlation between wood dust exposure and occupational asthma ( r) = 0,384; p = 0,000). ROC methods revealed that wood dust exposure 70,5 mg/m3/year associated with greater risk of occupational asthma, with sensitivity of 87,5 % and specificity 75 %. Wood dust exposure was significantly correlated with serum CD4 level, r 0,455, p 0,000.  Eosinophil level did not correlate with CD4 level nor wood dust exposure.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Merbau and bangkirai wood dust exposure is one of risk factor of occupational asthma. Occupational asthma due to these wood exposure is a non eosinophilic mechanism, and associated with elevated of CD4 serum level.</p>