Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2005 Mar;15(1):18-25.

House Dust Endotoxin Exposure and Allergic Sensitization in Korean Home Living Conditions

• Kwon BC
• Song TW
• Choi SY
• Shin YH
• Lee KE
• Sohn MH
• Kim KE
• Park JW
• Hong CS

Abstract

PURPOSE
Household endotoxin exposure in allergy and asthma has been gaining attention for its dual potential to exacerbate these conditions in individuals with established disease and to abrogate atopy before disease onset. The aim of this work was to analyze associations between current exposure to bacterial endotoxin in house dust and allergic sensitization in adults with asthma. METHODS: From the homes of 52 adults with asthma and 28 normal controls, house dust endotoxin (detected with a Limulus Amebocyte Lysate QCL-1000) and house dust mite allergens (Der f 1 and Der p 1) were quantified. Allergen sensitization was measured by skin prick test. RESULTS: The endotoxin levels from mattresses were lower in the home of adults with asthma than in that of normal controls. The endotoxin levels from mattresses detected in the home of adults with asthma were positively correlated with Der p 1 levels and wheal size to housedust mite allergens on skin prick tests. Furthermore, the endotoxin levels in living room floor dust were positively correlated with Der f 1 levels, but didn't relate with wheal size to house dust mite allergens. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that current exposure to house dust endotoxin might be positively associated with allergic sensitization in adults with asthma.

Keyword

House dust; Endotoxin; Allergic sensitization; Asthma

MeSH Terms

Adult
Allergens
Asthma
Beds
Dust*
Family Characteristics
Horseshoe Crabs
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Pyroglyphidae
Skin
Social Conditions*
Allergens
Dust