[Allergic pathology due to enzymes: a case report of asthma due to pectinase (polygalacturonase)]

The paper described the case of a worker handling pectinase, an enzyme used in the manufacture of food additives. This enzyme is a carbohydrase (polygalacturonase) obtained by extraction, and consists of three active phases. After little more than a year at the job, the subject complained of bouts of asthma, especially when she had to weigh the enzyme in dust form. Symptoms appeared even when this operation was performed by others near her work station. An allergological examination revealed skin hypersensitivity to the enzyme, without atopy. The methods of preparing the tests performed are described. The authors stress the need to perform similar investigations on other exposed workers in order to assess the allergogenic potential of the substance and adjust environmental preventive measures accordingly.