Respiratory allergy and specific immunoglobin E and immunoglobin G antibodies to reactive dyes used in the wool industry.

Respiratory symptoms among six employees in wool dye-houses in the United Kingdom were investigated. Clinical histories revealed that all had work-related respiratory symptoms, which they associated with exposure to Lanasol dyes. Five of the six subjects had specific Immunoglobin E to human serum albumin conjugates of one or more of the dyes to which they were exposed, providing evidence of sensitization to these dyes. In two subjects there was a definite association between symptoms to a particular dye, and specific IgE to an albumin conjugate of that dye. Specific IgG was found in exposed subjects, irrespective of the presence of allergic symptoms, indicating that specific IgG reflects exposure rather than clinical sensitization. Four of the six subjects had specific IgG4; this was only present in the subjects with respiratory allergy and specific IgE.