Sensitization Rates for Inhalant Allergens in Patients with Respiratory Allergy in Busan

Abstract

Background: It is important to detect causative allergens in patients with respiratory allergy for diagnosis and selection of treatment modality. There are many differences in sensitization rates of common inhalant allergens between countries and regions. Sensitization rates for inhalant allergens in adult patients with respiratory allergy including bronchial asthma in Busan has not been known. Objective: This study was conducted to determine sensitization rates of various allergens. Methods: Skin prick test was performed with 49 common inhalant allergens on 659 respiratory allergy patients from May 2001 through July 2004 at Dong-A University Hospital, and clinical characteristics of these patients were analyzed. Results: The number of positive responders to more than one allergen out of 659 patients was 395 (59.5%). The sensitization rate of common inhalant allergens were mites (37.9%), animal epithelium (26.1%), tree pollen (22.6%), fungi (19.9%), weed pollen (11.1%), grass pollen (9.1%), and cockroach (5.5%). The most common sensitizing allergen was Dermatophagoides farinae (35.5%), followed by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (34.9%), Tyrophagus (17.1%), Alder (16.7%) and Birch pollens (14.9%). Conclusion: In Busan, the most common sensitizing allergen is found to be the house dust mite, and the most common pollen is from Alder trees. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the sensitization rate of Japanese cedar, Hop japanese pollen, Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus citri.