[Environmental etiological factors in atshma in adults (author's transl)]

Clinical, immunological, and functional investigations were conducted to study possible specific factors involved in the etiology of asthma in adults. The authors emphasize the frequency of positive skin, radio-immunologic and bronchial provocation tests for domestic pneumallergens in patients with common asthma, even those over 40 years of age. These cases improve in a protected environment and may benefit from immunotherapy. In patients with clinical manifestations suggesting possible occupational etiological factors the same tests can be used to diagnose the presence of a wide variety of vegetable or animal allergens. Tests involving exposing the bronchi to various chemical compounds used during working conditions (antibiotics, plastic precursors, metals, hair preparations) show that there exists a wide variety of causes. Systematic search for etiological factors is essential when investigating asthma in adults.