Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2017 Nov;9(6):499-508. 10.4168/aair.2017.9.6.499.

Patterns of Inhalant Allergen Sensitization and Geographical Variation in Korean Adults: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

• Kang MG
• Kim MY
• Song WJ
• Kim S
• Jo EJ
• Lee SE
• Kwon JW
• Lee SM
• Park CS
• Park HK
• Park HW
• Chang YS
• Lee J
• Lee YM
• Jee YK
• Lee JM
• Choi IS
• Cho SH

• KMID: 2421660
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2017.9.6.499

Abstract

PURPOSE
Inhalant allergen sensitization is one of the major factors involved in the pathogenesis of allergic respiratory diseases. However, the sensitization is determined by interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Thus, testing panels of inhalant allergens may differ among geographical areas. Here we aimed to determine 10 common inhalant allergens in Korean adult patients with suspected respiratory allergies and to examine the variation between different geographical locations.
METHODS
A total of 28,954 patient records were retrieved for retrospective analysis, from 12 referral allergy clinics located in 9 different areas. Inclusion criteria were Korean adults (≥18 years old) who underwent the inhalant allergen skin prick test for suspected history of respiratory allergy. The primary outcome was inhalant allergen skin prick response. Demographic and clinical information were also collected. Positive skin prick responses to allergens were defined as allergen-to-histamine wheal ratio ≥1. Based on skin test results, the most prevalent aeroallergens were determined.
RESULTS
The overall prevalence of allergic sensitization was 45.3%. Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were the most commonly sensitized allergens. Other common inhalant allergens were cat epithelium (8.1%), birch (7.7%), mugwort (6.9%), alder (6.7%), hazel (6.7%), beech (6.7%), oak (6.6%), and Tyrophagus putres (6.2%), in decreasing order frequency. These 10 inhalant allergens explained 90% of inhalant allergen sensitization in the study participants. However, distinct patterns of the 10 inhalant sensitization were observed in patients living in Chungnam and Jeju. American cockroach, Gernam cockroach, and Trichophyton metagrophytes were unique in Chungnam. Orchard, Japanese cedar, and Velvet were unique in Jeju.
CONCLUSIONS
The present analysis suggests a panel of 10 most common inhalant allergens in Korean adult patients with suspected respiratory allergies, which explained 90% of inhalant allergen sensitization. This panel can be utilized as a practical and convenient tool for primary practice and epidemiological surveys of respiratory allergic diseases.

Keyword

Allergens; allergy; sensitization

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Allergens
Alnus
Animals
Artemisia
Betula
Cats
Chungcheongnam-do
Cockroaches
Cryptomeria
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Epithelium
Fagus
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Periplaneta
Prevalence
Referral and Consultation
Retrospective Studies*
Skin
Skin Tests
Trichophyton
Allergens

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The locations of the referral centers enrolled in this study.

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  Fig. 2 Overall sensitization profiles of inhalant allergens in decreasing order of frequency.

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