The risk of general reactions to skin prick testing (SPT)
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Dreborg.
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The predominant sensitizing allergens in Swedish asthmatic children are furred pet animals. Poor ventilation and increased indoor humidity cause accumulation of pet allergens indoors. Indirect contacts with cats also increase pet allergen exposure. We investigated whether the concentration and the total amount of cat (Fel d I) and dog (Can f I) allergen in dust from various surfaces in a day-care center were influenced by extensive renovation, installation of a new ventilation system, ventilation of floors, and avoidance by families and personnel of direct and indirect contacts with pets. The cleaning routine in the day-care center was changed extensively after renovation. Old mattresses, pillowcases, curtains, sofas, and soft toys were removed, and new material were purchased. Dust was collected from various surfaces before and after renovation from table and chair surfaces, floors, curtains, mattresses, pillows, cushion-like toys, and sofas on five occasions during a 12-month period. Fel d I and Can f I allergen levels were determined by sandwich ELISA. The reduction in the total amount of both Fel d I and Can f I/sampling area was more pronounced than the reduction in the concentration of allergen/g of dust. After renovation, the mean cat and dog allergen concentration was decreased by six and 10 times, respectively. After 1 year, the total amount of cat allergen was lower in all areas (from 24 ng to < 1 ng/sampling area, P < 0.05). Already at the first sampling after renovation, the total amount of dog allergen had decreased more than 10 times. In a previous study, we found the median concentration of cat and dog allergen to be 10-30 times higher in ordinary day-care centers. Our present study demonstrates that children changing from a normal center to the renovated center would be exposed to much lower levels of cat and dog allergen. Combined measures such as installation of mechanical ventilation, ventilated floors, regular extensive cleaning, and, probably most important, avoidance of direct and indirect contacts with pets, should decrease cat and dog allergen exposure in day-care centers.
Mite species adapted to warm, humid climates are commonly found in house dust in the tropics. In Cuba, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. siboney, and Blomia tropicalis are the most common and abundant mite species in house dust. To investigate the pattern of sensitization of Cuban asthmatic patients to common mite species, we skin-prick-tested (SPT) 148 patients with a clinical history of asthma and possible mite allergy, and determined specific IgE antibodies against mite allergens (D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, D. siboney, B. tropicalis, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, and Glycyphagus domesticus). The prevalence of positive SPT was high to D. siboney (88%), D. pteronyssinus (87%), A. siro (85%), B. tropicalis (85%), and D. farinae (83%). The largest skin reactions were obtained with D. siboney and B. tropicalis extracts. The skin test response to the D. siboney extract correlated to those of D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, B. tropicalis, and A. siro. The highest IgE levels were found to Dermatophagoides species and B. tropicalis. IgE to D. siboney and B. tropicalis were found in 97% and 96% of the patients, respectively. The prevalence of specific IgE to the other mites studied varied from 46 to 65%. D. siboney and B. tropicalis are important sensitizers among asthmatic patients in Cuba.
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We evaluated a new method of computer-based scanning of skin prick test wheal areas. To test the calibration of the program, we scanned five constructed circles of exactly defined areas between 5 and 255 mm2. One of these circles was scanned in different degrees of contrast (modes), the middle mode being used in the other experiments. We also investigated the inter- and intraoperator variation. Finally, results obtained by measuring diameters of wheals and by the new method of area determination were compared for 82 histamine and 75 egg wheals. The areas found agreed well with the real areas (P < 0.01) (mean 97.4-100.8%), except for the smallest wheal (5mm2) (NS). Areas obtained in the "middle position" closely resembled the real area. The intraoperator coefficient of variation (c.v.) was 1.4% (0.3-4.3), the day-to-day c.v. was 1.9% (0.2-5.3), and the interoperator c.v. was 2.3% (0.7-5.7), with a higher c.v. for small areas. Histamine and egg wheals were significantly larger with the diameter method (126% and 129%, respectively) than with the area method. The difference between the methods was most pronounced for small wheal areas. The c.v. of the scanning method was significantly lower than that of the diameter method. The new program was precise and is recommended for registration of skin test reactions in scientific trials. Although the scanner works well and has high precision, the major problem in skin testing seems still to be the reproducibility of the skin test technique employed.
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BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to house dust mites of the genus Dermatophagoides play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma and other atopic diseases. Dermatophagoides siboney has been described as a species from Cuba. Together with D. pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis, it is frequently found in house dust from homes of asthmatics. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the allergenic composition from the house dust mite D. siboney. METHODS: The characterization of D. siboney extract was performed by SDS-gPAGE and immunoblotting. Purification of individual components was performed by affinity chromatography. RESULTS: At least 16 components between 13 and 98 kDa stained by Coomassie Blue were found. Using a panel of 35 sera from atopic mite sensitive patients 13 components reacted to different extent with patient IgE. Two components, 25 and 14 kDa, bound to specific IgE strongly and frequently, i.e. 80 and 91% of the patients, respectively. Affinity chromatography using crossreacting monoclonal antibodies to group 1 and 2 allergens resulted in purified preparations of 25 and 14 kDa proteins, which showed IgE-binding with the majority of the human sera when tested by immuno-dot. CONCLUSION: Based on the IgE binding profile of D. siboney and on the capacity to react with crossreacting monoclonal antibodies for groups 1 and 2, it is proposed to name these two allergens, 25 and 14 kDa, Der s 1 and Der s 2, respectively.
BACKGROUND: The role of Pyroglyphid mites in IgE-mediated sensitization has been well established. Although mites belonging to the genus Dermatophagoides dominate in the acarofauna of domestic dust, non-pyroglyphid mites might also be of clinical importance. In Cuba, Dermatophagoides siboney is found in dust coexisting with D. pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis. Dermatophagoides farinae is not found. Storage mites, such as Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae, might also be present. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the allergenic relationships among the mites present in the environment of allergic patients in Cuba. METHODS: The crossreactivity between an extract of D. siboney and the above mentioned six mites was studied by specific IgE inhibition, using sera of mite-sensitive patients after incubation with serial dilutions of D. siboney. RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of D. siboney extract was more pronounced against D. farinae, 91%, than against D. pteronyssinus, 62%. Specific IgE to B. tropicalis, A. siro, L. destructor and T. putrescentiae were inhibited to a much lesser extent, i.e. between 47 and 58%. The correlation between IgE to D. siboney and IgE to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae was of 0.92 and 0.90, respectively. A weaker correlation was found between D. siboney and L. destructor (0.7), A. siro (0.67), B. tropicalis (0.54) and T. putrescentiae (0.51). CONCLUSION: Thus, D. siboney seems to be most closely related to D. farinae.
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Allergic sensitization and symptoms from the airways in relation to air pollution were compared in 10-12-year-old school children (n = 1113) from urban Konin in central Poland and both urban and rural parts of Sundsvall in northern Sweden. The measurements included parental questionnaires, skin-prick tests and serial peak flow measurements during 2 weeks with simultaneous monitoring of outdoor air pollutants. The skin-prick test technique was validated by IgE antibody determinations. The levels of common industrial pollutants, SO2 and smoke particles were much higher in Konin than in urban Sundsvall and the levels of NO2 were similar. Various respiratory symptoms were more often reported among school children in Konin (except for wheezing and diagnosed asthma). Multiple logistic regression analyses yielded the following increased odds ratios for children in Konin as compared with the reference group (rural Sundsvall): chest tightness and breathlessness 3.48 (95% confidence interval 2.08-5.82), exercise-induced coughing attacks 3.69 (95% confidence interval 1.68-8.10), recurrent episodes of common cold 2.79 (95% confidence interval 1.53-5.09) and prolonged cough 4.89 (95% confidence interval 2.59-9.23). In contrast, as compared with rural Sundsvall, the adjusted odds ratio for a positive skin-prick test was decreased in Konin, but increased in urban Sundsvall, 0.58 (95% confidence interval 0.37-0.91) and 1.67 (95% confidence interval 1.15-2.42) respectively. The study confirms that living in urban, as compared with rural areas, is associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and sensitization to allergens. These differences could be explained by air pollution. Respiratory symptoms were more common in a similar urban group of Polish children who were exposed to even higher levels of air pollution. These children, however, had a much lower prevalence of sensitization to allergens, as compared with the Swedish children. This indicates that differences in lifestyle and standard of living between western Europe and a former socialist country influences the prevalence of atopy.
Immunotherapy (IT) was performed for 12 months with a purified and standardized preparation of Dermatophagoides farinae. Twenty adults with rhinoconjunctivitis sensitive to house-dust mite were given IT, and a similar group of 11 patients served as open controls. A total of 512 injections were given. Twenty-eight episodes of allergic side-effects occurred, 13 general and 15 local, most of them during the initial incremental dose period. No severe reactions started later than 30 min after the injection. One patient suffered anaphylactic shock. In this patient, specific antibodies fell immediately, followed by an increase within 1 week. The therapy group improved significantly in relation to the open controls in patients' subjective evaluation of symptoms (P < 0.028) and skin (P < 0.0001) and conjunctival (P < 0.001) sensitivity. Specific IgE increased in controls (P < 0.0001) but not in IT-treated patients during the "mite season"; that is, there was a significant difference in change during the observation period (P < 0.0001). There was also a difference in change of specific IgG between the groups during the first 4-5 months and the whole year (P < 0.0001), but not from 4-5 months to 12 months. In contrast to changes in antibody titers (IgG, P = 0.04), changes in conjunctival (P < 0.01) and especially skin sensitivity (P < 0.005) correlated well with subjective improvement. This implies that the skin prick test and the conjunctival test can be recommended for follow-up of IT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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