Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2007 Jun;27(2):105-110.

Airway Hyperresponsiveness-related Aeroallergens in Suspected Asthma

Abstract

BACKGROUND: House dust mites and cats are major allergens causing asthma, and grass pollens are more closely related to allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate which aeroallergens are related to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a characteristic feature of asthma, in Korean patients. METHOD: Medical records of suspected asthmatics, who performed both skin prick tests using common aeroallergens and the methacholine bronchoprovocation test between 2001 and 2007, were reviewed. A positive response to an allergen was defined as allergen/histamine wheal ratio of > or =1. A positive and a > or =moderate AHR were defined as 20% fall in FEV1 to < or =25 and < or =2 mg/mL of methacholine, respectively. The relative risks (adjusted odds ratio) for AHR compared to non-atopy were determined by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULT: House dust mites were the most prevalent allergens in both asthma (n=238) and non-asthma (n=149) patients. The AHR severity was significantly related to the sensitization rates to house dust mites in asthmatics. The relative risks for > or =moderate AHR of subjects sensitized to Dermatophagoides farinae and hazel were 1.21 (P<0.01) and 0.72 (P<0.05), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Sensitization to a house dust mite, D. farinae, might be a significant risk factor for AHR, but hazel sensitization was protective and might be related to allergic rhinitis.

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Animals
Asthma*
Cats
Dermatophagoides farinae
Humans
Logistic Models
Medical Records
Methacholine Chloride
Poaceae
Pollen
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis
Risk Factors
Skin
Allergens
Methacholine Chloride