Journal Information
Vol. 42. Issue 6.
Pages 302-306 (June 2006)
Vol. 42. Issue 6.
Pages 302-306 (June 2006)
Case Reports
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Occupational Asthma Caused by Chromium and Nickel
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María Jesus Cruza, Roser Costaa, Eduard Marquillesb, Ferran Morella, Xavier Muñozc,
a Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
b Servei de Pneumologia, Xarxa Hospitalaria, Fundació Althaia, Manresa, Barcelona, Spain
c Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who developed occupational asthma following exposure to chromium and nickel in the nickel plating section of a metalworks company. Skin prick tests for specific antibodies proved positive for nickel chloride at a concentration of 1 mg/mL and negative for potassium dichromate. The specific bronchial provocation test confirmed the diagnosis of occupational asthma due to exposure to chromium and nickel. The patient presented a late positive reaction to nickel chloride (0.1 mg/mL) and an immediate positive reaction to a 10 mg/mL solution of potassium dichromate. These results indicate a dual response to nickel and chromium in this patient.

Key words:
Chromium
Nickel
Occupational asthma

Se describe el caso de una paciente de 40 años que desarrolló asma ocupacional tras la exposición a cromo y a níquel mientras realizaba recubrimientos de níquel en una empresa metalúrgica en la sección de niquelado. Las pruebas cutáneas específicas resultaron positivas a cloruro de níquel a una concentración de 1 mg/ml y negativas a dicromato potásico. La prueba de provocación bronquial específica confirmó el diagnóstico de asma ocupacional debida a la exposición a cromo y a níquel, presentando la paciente una respuesta positiva tardía a una concentración de 0,1 mg/ml de cloruro de níquel, y una respuesta positiva precoz con una solución de 10 mg/ml de dicromato potásico. Estos re-sultados indican una doble sensibilización a níquel y cromo es esta paciente.

Palabras clave:
Cromo
Níquel
Asma ocupacional
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