A Contribution to the Allergic Ethiopathogenity of Byssinosis

Abstract

So far, the mechanisms invoked in order to explain the ethiopathogenity of byssinosis have differed greatly. Seven cases of byssinosis including the grades and II by Schilling have been studied, in which the different techniques of allergologic diagnosis with cotton extract were performed, together with cutaneous tests with fungi. Sex, age when symptoms appeared, duration of exposure to the potentially antigenic atmosphere, as well as the relationship between appearance of the typical symptomatology and contact with the corresponding allergen, have been considered.

Chromatographic Separation of the Cotton-Gin Trash, Bract, Sisal, and Jute Antigens into Two Fractions

“…& d q u o ; etiology of byssinosis. In one, byssinosis is attributed to an endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria on the bracts and other plant parts in cotton [7,17]; in another, it is ascribed to histamine-releasing substance(s) in the dust [ 1,2,6]; and in still another theory, an allergen is suggested as playing an impor-, tant part in the disease [ 12,15,25]. Sekul and Ory [20, 21 described the purification of cotton dust antigen(s) by extraction with water, followed by 85% aqueous methanol, then a lead acetate and sodium sulfate treatment of the methanol residue.…”

Immunologic responses to inhaled cotton dust.

“…Of the 295 cotton workers tested, 45 (15%) were atopic and, of these, 27 textile mills: 18/101 (18%) were atopic and 11 (61%) were positive to ACDE; of the nonatopic individuals tested, only 12/83 (14%) were reactive to ACDE. In both populations, there was a significant relationship between the presence of atopy and cotton dust extract immunoreac- tivity.…”

“…The chemical nature ofthese extracts and house dust extracts was then examined and it was demonstrated that both contained nearly the same amino acids, and in this respect, they resembled molds (42). Results from skin testing and provocative challenge of byssinotics with fungal extracts have been inconclusive (42)(43)(44)(45). Although some positive reactions have been obtained, these did not correlate with the presence ofdisease.…”

Differential Diagnosis of Byssinosis by Blood Histamine and Pulmonary Function Test: A Review and an Appraisal

“…The disease is manifested by chest tightness, shortness of breath, phlegum, and cough (Parikh, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt, and Panchal 1985;Parikh et al 1986). The resultant bronchoconstriction is probably a result of release of biogenic amines (Nowier, Abdul-Kadar, and Omran 1984;Ainsworth, Newman, and Harley 1979;Oehling, dela-Reguera, and Vines-Rueda 1972;Bouhuys, Lindell, and Linding 1960), chemotaxins (Ainsworth and Newman 1972), and endotoxins (Cavagna, Foa, and Vigliani 1969).…”