Type I Allergy to House Dust Mite and Familial BACKGROUND of Respiratory Atopy in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

Shin, Ja Kyoung; Koo, Dae Won; Lee, Chong Ju; Jang, Yean Sub

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that house dust mite allergy is an important cause of the atopic dermatitis(A.D). However, it is not clear that. what factors may be related to the development of the mite illergy in patients with AD.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to see whether the presence of a familial background of RA implies a relationship to the mite allergy in AD.
METHODS
Skin prick test and fluoroallergosorbent, test (FAST) with house dust mit,e were performed in 47 patients wih AD.
RESULTS
1. In comparison the esult of prick test with that of FAST to house dust mite antigen, it showed a concordance ra!e of 82%. And the prick test was more sensitive than the FAST. 2. The prevalence of positive FAST reactions was significantly increased in the patients with AD who had a family hitory of RA than those in patients with AD who had neither family or personal history of RA. 3. The level of specific IgE against house dust mite did not relate to the presence of family cr personal history of RA. 4. The prevalence of positive prick test results did not relate to the presence of family or personal history of RA. 5. The prevalence of positive FAST reactions, the level of specific IgE, and the rate of positive prick test results did not relate to the severity of skin involvement. 6. The most common allergens which caused positive skin reactions were house dust, cat fur, Dermatophagoides farinac, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, et al. Antigen score of prick test to 55 common antigens wa. significant increased in the patients with AD who had a family history of RA, but did not relat to the severity of skin involvement or the presence of personal history of RA.
CONCLUSION
We may conclude that type I allergy to the house dust mit,e is not directly related to AD perse. This type of allergy to the mite seems to occur predominantly in those patient s with AD who have a farilial background of RA.