Concomitant alveolitis and asthma following exposure to triphenylmethane triisocyanate.

A 36-year-old man was admitted to hospital with increasing breathlessness. He had been exposed to triphenylmethane triisocyanate. Pulmonary function tests demonstrated physiological abnormalities consistent with both asthma and alveolitis. Exposure to less common isocyanates may not be immediately apparent. Asthma developing after isocyanate exposure is well recognized. Pneumonitis is a relatively rare complication. Measurement of gas transfer may be helpful in the investigation of isocyanate toxicity.