Abstract
INTRODUCTION: House dust mite allergy affects 65-130 million people worldwide. Untreated patients could develop severe allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. METHODS: We consecutively recruited 50 patients with a clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis/rhino conjunctivitis. Mite Skin Prick Tests were performed. Mite specific IgE were tested. RESULTS: Ninety-six per cent of the patients had a positive prick test for Dpt, Dfar 94%, Ldt 86%, Tput 82%, and Blot 82%. Der p1 was recognized by 70%, Der p2 84%, Der p23 72%. Regarding serodominances, Der p2 was the highest one (30.2 kU/L). Forty-three patients presented sensitization to 3 Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus molecules, been 1 + 2 + 23 the main combination. Der p 1, 2, and 23 prevalence were similar in patients with intermittent or persistent allergic rhinitis. All patients with asthma recognized to Der p2 and more than 80% Der p1 and 23. In the group of patients without asthma, sensitivity to Der p23 is considerably reduced. CONCLUSION: Ninety per cent of patients recognize Der p1, 2, and 23, alone or in any of their combinations. The high prevalence of sensitization to Der p23 (72%) stands out, that all asthmatic patients are sensitive to Der p2 and that sensitization to Der p23 in non-asthmatic patients drops to 50%.