Bronchial Challenge With Tri a 14 as an Alternative Diagnostic Test for Baker's Asthma

Baker's asthma (BA) is the most prevalent occupational respiratory disease in developed countries. It is caused by inhalation of wheat dust in the working environment and affects 1%-10% of workers in the baking industry. Diagnosis of BA is based on bronchial challenge with wheat, a technique that carries a high risk for patients. The wheat lipid transfer protein Tri a 14 is a major allergen in BA.

The aim of our study was to characterize Tri a 14 as a marker of BA in order to prevent patients from having to undergo bronchial challenge with wheat.

The study population comprised 55 patients selected at the Rio Hortega Hospital, Valladolid, Spain. Patients with BA were diagnosed using a skin prick test (SPT) with wheat and Tri a 14 and bronchial challenge test (BCT) with wheat. Patients with food allergy had a clear clinical history of allergy to peach confirmed by positive SPT to peach extract and Pru p 3.

All patients in the BA group had a positive SPT result with wheat (100%), and most had positive results with Tri a 14 (95%). A positive BCT result with Tri a 14 was also observed in 22 of 27 of the patients with BA (82%). The response to Tri a 14 was specifically associated with BA.

Tri a 14 is a good marker of BA and can be used in SPT and BCT as an alternative diagnostic method, thus avoiding bronchial challenge with wheat and reducing the risk associated with this technique.