Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in workers exposed to metalworking fluids. Issue 8 (20th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barber, Christopher M.; Burton, Clare M.; Hendrick, David J.; Pickering, C Anthony C.; Robertson, Alastair S.; Robertson, Wendy; Burge, P Sherwood
• Is Part Of: American journal of industrial medicine. Volume 57:Issue 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 872
• Page End: 880
• Publication Date: 2014-06-20
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Médecine du travail -- Périodiques; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-3586

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ajim22337-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>This study used data from a large UK outbreak investigation, to develop and validate a new case definition for hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to metalworking fluid exposure (MWF‐HP).</p> </sec> <sec id="ajim22337-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The clinical data from all workers with suspected MWF‐HP were reviewed by an experienced panel of clinicians. A new MWF‐HP Score was then developed to match the "gold standard" clinical opinion as closely as possible, using standard diagnostic criteria that were relatively weighted by their positive predictive value.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajim22337-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The new case definition was reproducible, and agreed with expert panel opinion in 30/37 cases. This level of agreement was greater than with any of the three previously utilized case definitions (agreement in 16–24 cases). Where it was possible to calculate, the MWF‐HP Score also performed well when applied to 50 unrelated MWF‐HP cases.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajim22337-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The MWF‐HP Score offers a new case definition for use in future outbreaks. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:872–880, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>