Dermatophagoides Farinae-specific IgE and IgG4 Antibodies in Atopic Dermatitis Patients

Cho, Heun Jung; Choi, Hyun Joo; Kim, Dong Kun; Lee, Kwang Hoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is still unknown. Many reports have suggested that the house dust mite antigen may play a role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. The IgG4 allergen-specific subclass has been considered to be involved both in allergic reactions and associated with the appropriate response to allergen-specific immunotherapy. OBJECT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the positive rate of the allergic prick test to D. farinae and the levels of D. farinae-specific IgE and Ig64.
METHODS
We performed the allergy prick test, RAST for D. farinae-specific IgE and ELISA for D. farinae-specific IgG subclasses and compared the values between atopic dermatitis patients and normal controls.
RESULTS
1. D. farinae was the most common allergen in patients with atopic dermatitis and the positive rate of the allergic prick test was 61.0%. The positive rate of the allergic prick test and the positive rate to D. farinae increased as c]inical grading increased. 2. The Positive reaction rate of D. farinae-specific IgE(RAST) in those with atopic dermatitis was 68.8% and increased as the positive reactions of the allergic prick test to D. farinae and chnical grading increased. 3. Among the IgG subclasses, only the level of D. farinae-specific IgG4 was significantly higher in atopic dermatitis than normal controls. 4. The level of D. farinae-specific IgG4 showed a tendency to decrease in accordance with the clinical severity grades.
CONCLUSION
These results suggested that D. farinae might play an important role in the development of atopic dermatitis and well-designed studies should continue to be performed in order to delineate the biological significance of IgG4.