Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2013 Sep;5(5):301-308. 10.4168/aair.2013.5.5.301.

Seasonal Variation in Skin Sensitivity to Aeroallergens

• Choi IS
• Lee SS
• Myeong E
• Lee JW
• Kim WJ
• Jin J

• KMID: 2260811
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2013.5.5.301

Abstract

PURPOSE
We previously demonstrated seasonal variation in sensitization to aeroallergens in a small group of patients with exercise-induced asthma. This study was performed to confirm the relationship in a much larger population.
METHODS
The charts of 1,891 patients who received allergy skin prick tests were reviewed retrospectively. The test results from subjects aged < or =60 years were compared between the groups classified according to the season when the patients received the tests (spring: March-May, summer: June-August, fall: September-November, winter: December-February). The data from 25 respiratory allergy patients who received the tests two or more times and showed a positive response at least once were analyzed longitudinally.
RESULTS
The most prevalent among 29 tested aeroallergens were house dust mites (HDMs) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae. The skin sensitization rates to D. pteronyssinus (23.2% vs. 32.1%, P=0.004) and D. farinae (22.2% vs. 30.2%, P=0.009) were significantly lower in the summer and higher in the fall (38.3% vs. 26.6% and 35.6% vs. 25.3%; P=0.001 respectively) than those in other seasons in patients with a respiratory allergy (n=1,102). The sensitization rates to weed pollens in the fall (13.9% vs. 8.3%, P=0.006) and to Aspergillus fumigatus in the winter (2.9% vs. 0.7%, P=0.005) were significantly higher. In patients with non-respiratory allergy such as urticaria/anaphylaxis (n=340), the D. farinae sensitization rate was significantly lower in the summer also but higher in the spring. The trend of the HDM sensitization rate being lower in the summer and higher in the fall was observed in the longitudinal study.
CONCLUSIONS
Skin sensitivity to aeroallergens such as HDMs, pollens, and molds demonstrates seasonal variation in respiratory allergy patients. Non-respiratory allergy patients also showed seasonal variation in sensitivity to aeroallergens, which might be related to the "priming" effect of allergens.

Keyword

Seasonal variation; skin sensitivity; aeroallergens; allergy

MeSH Terms

Aged
Allergens
Aspergillus fumigatus
Asthma, Exercise-Induced
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Fungi
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Pollen
Pyroglyphidae
Retrospective Studies
Seasons
Skin
Allergens

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Rate of clinically significant positive responses (≥100% of allergen/histamine wheal size ratio) to skin prick tests with aeroallergens in patients with respiratory or non-respiratory allergy such as urticaria/anaphylaxis. *P<0.05, †P<0.01, and ‡P<0.001 compared to other seasons.

• 

  Fig. 2 Change in the rate of clinically significant positive responses (≥100% of allergen/histamine wheal size ratio) to skin prick tests with aeroallergens in respiratory allergy patients who performed the tests two or more times in different seasons.

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