[Objective evaluation of respiratory ventilation at work by measuring peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)]

Abstract

Eleven patients suffering from baker's asthma, 27 patients with bronchitis and 2 patients with suspected bronchial asthma resulting from occupational exposure to formaldehyde were subjected to a single blinded 3-day observation. Clinical symptoms' analysis and PEFR were performed to diagnose asthmatic symptoms at the workplaces. In all the patients with barker's asthma bronchoconstriction was observed as a result of exposure to formaldehyde on both "no drug" and "placebo" days. No bronchoconstriction on the "bronchodilator" day was observed. Reactions to other asthmatic and bronchitic patients differed significantly. The proposed model seems to be useful as a routine diagnostic procedure in occupational asthma.