Allergies in the workplace

摘要

Dermatological manifestations of occupationally and environmentally induced connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are rare. Exposure to drugs, chemicals and other exogenous substances can lead to cutaneous and extracutaneous fibrosis. CTDs that have been associated with occupational exposure include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and undifferentiated CTD. The most commonly reported and widely studied of the occupational-induced CTDs that present with skin manifestations is systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, progressive systemic sclerosis). Other scleroderma-like syndromes caused by exogenous substances include toxic oil syndrome (rape-seed oil), eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (L-tryptophan) and hand-arm-vibration syndrome.This article discusses some of the features of scleroderma and occupational risk factors, illustrated by two cases reported as occupationally induced systemic scleroderma.