Original scientific paper
Orciprenaline chronic effect in byssinosis
C. Raucher
; Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Clui-Napoca, Romania
V. Szabo
; Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Clui-Napoca, Romania
Abstract
Exposure to textile dust has been reported to produce byssinosis with bronchospasms as a major pathogenic mechanism. In the present study 228 exposed workers in a hemp flax mill were examined. The subjects were followed up during several successive years. The therapy was conducted intermittently for one year, by alternating orciprenaline with phenoterol and using 0.75-1.50 mg of Alupent, and 0.2-0.4 mg of Berotec, Boehninger Ingelheim, respectively. These drugs were administered before the shift, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, which are regarded as the »critical days« of byssinosis. In 67-84 percent of the cases an attenuation was registered, the medication showing to suppress the Monday syndrome consisting of chest tightness, dyspnoea and cough. On Monday, the FEV1 values tended to become normal in 34 per cent of the cases and to improve in 29 per cent of the cases. The improvement was of long duration, the FEV1 values remaining within normal limits for several months, and paradoxically, even a decrease was noted in 63-94 per cent of the persons with clinical symptoms but without functional dissorders. Our data allow the following conclusions: 1. There are two clinical forms of byssinosis - a) Manifest byssinosis, and b) Incomplete byssinosis with clinical symptoms but without functional modifications. 2. Pathogenic treatment with adrenergic bronchospasmolytics is effective, suppressing the Monday syndrome in 63 per cent of cases. It is recommended in cases of manifest byssinosis, while in incomplete byssinosis the indication is relative and requires biannual spirographic measurements. In the case of exposed but asymptomatic workers the treatment is inadvisable.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
159154
URI
Publication date:
28.7.1981.
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