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Trimellitic Anhydride ToxicityA Cause of Acute Multisystem Failure
Manuel Rivera, MD;
M. Brooke Nicotra, MD;
Garland E. Byron, MD;
Roy Patterson, MD;
David H. Yawn, MD;
Maurice Franco, MD;
C. Raymond Zeiss, MD;
S. Donald Greenberg, MD
Arch Intern Med. 1981;141(8):1071-1074.
Abstract
• A person exposed to trimellitic anhydride (TMA) an epoxy resin widely used in industry, experienced respiratory failure, anemia, and gastrointestinal bleeding. A lung biopsy specimen demonstrated intra-alveolar hemorrhage and damage to alveolar lining cells. The patient and six co-workers were examined. Results indicated the presence of hemolytic antibodies directed against TMA-haptenized erythrocytes, IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies directed against TMA-erythrocyte complexes, and antibodies against TMA-human serum albumin. Antibody levels in the patient were greater than in the co-workers. The elevated antibody levels demonstrate the antigenic potential of TMA. However, the cause of the pulmonary and hematologic damage remains uncertain and may represent either immunologic or direct toxic effects of TMA. In patients with multisystem failure of this nature, occupational hazards should be added to the differential diagnosis.
(Arch Intern Med 1981;141:1071-1074)
Author Affiliations
From the Division of Pulmonary Medicine (Drs Rivera, Nicotra, Byron, and Franco) and the Department of Pathology (Drs Yawn and Greenberg) Baylor College of Medicine, Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston; and the Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago (Drs Patterson and Zeiss). Dr Rivera is now with the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 19, 1980.
Reprint requests to Pulmonary Section, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, PO Box 2003, Tyler, TX 75710 (Dr Rivera).
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