Persistent severe asthma in an adult from transient dog exposure: a brief communication

While atopy is commonly found without signs of asthma, it has been proposed that in some settings, allergen exposure itself can lead to the development of the asthmatic diathesis. To date, this theory has been primarily supported by cases of occupational asthma, where prolonged symptoms have persisted following termination of exposure to the suspect allergen. This model is complicated by associated medicolegal implications, as well as by the generally long-term nature of the exposure, raising questions about the concurrent natural history of a given patient's illness. We report a case of non-occupational dog dander-induced asthma. Exposure was on an intermittent basis over a 15-month period, with the patient exhibiting a classic late phase response. Following discontinuation of exposure to dog dander, he continued to have symptoms, considerably in excess of his findings prior to dog dander exposure.