Occupational asthma caused by a hardener containing an aliphatic and a cycloaliphatic diamine

An otherwise healthy 44-yr-old man experienced a serious attack of bronchial obstruction after working with resins and hardeners, releasing fumes of a mixture of an alipathic and a cycloaliphatic diamine hardener. Eight hours after deliberate challenge with the hardener a large increase of airway resistance was found. Seventy-two hours after challenge, eosinophilia in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid together with a decrease of peripheral eosinophils was seen. After cessation of contact with this hardener, no more acute episodes occurred, although maintenance treatment with a topical corticosteroid and a beta 2-agonist remained necessary. A BAL performed 1 yr later showed a normal cell distribution. The results suggest that these aliphatic and cycloaliphatic diamine hardeners may be occupational hazards. Eosinophil inflammation may play a causal role.