Table 1 Baseline anthropometric and clinical characteristics of study subjects (n = 43)
Characteristics
M:F30 (70%):13 (30%)
Mean (SD) age (years)41.4 (10.1)
Atopy positive:negative:unknown32 (66%):7 (16%):4 (9%)
Smoking S:ES:NS7 (17%):11(28%):22 (55%)
Duration of exposure at work (years)13.6 (11.2)
Duration of work-related asthma symptoms (years)4.94 (4.6)
FEV1 (% predicted)97.8 (17.0)
PC20 ⩽16 mg/ml (n/total, %)26/43/60.4
Vol2– 5 (cm3)2.78 (0.8)
MCA (cm2)0.52 (0.1)
Molecular weight of suspected agents HMW:LMW21 (49%):22 (51%)
History of nasal symptoms: all (n = 40); HMW (n = 18); LMW (n = 22)*
    Runny nose32 (80%):16 (89%):16 (73%)
    Sneezing33 (83%):16 (89%):17 (77%)
    Blocked nose29 (73%):14 (78%):15 (68%)
    Itching29 (73%):14 (78%):15 (68%)

  • Data are presented as n (%) or mean (SD).

  • ES, ex-smoker; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; HMW, high molecular weight; LMW, low molecular weight; MCA, minimum cross-sectional area; NS, non-smoker; PC20, concentration of methacholine that caused a 20% fall in FEV1; S, smoker; Vol2–5,

  • nasal volume 2–5 cm into the nose.

  • *Number (%) of subjects reporting nasal symptoms in all subjects and based on the molecular weight of the suspected agent. Data from the questionnaire were not available for three subjects.