The Correlation between Increased Sensitization Rate to Weeds in Children and the Annual Increase in Weed Pollen in Korea / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Recently allergic diseases have gradually increased in schools and among preschool aged childhood. Pollen amount of weeds also, especially ragweed, were increased. We evaluated the increased pollen count of weed was associated with the sensitization rate to weed in childhood. METHODS: Airborne particles carrying allergens were collected daily from eight stations nationwide(Seoul, Guri, Cheongju, Daegu, Kwangju, Busan, Kangneung, and Jeju) by using 7 days-Burkard sampler(Burkard Manufacturing Co Ltd, Hertfordshire, UK), for 7 years in South Korea(July 1, 1997-June 30, 2004). They were counted and recorded along with the weather. Data was collected through pediatric patients with allergic symptoms, who visit the pediatrics allergy clinics and capable of allerfy skin test among hospitals that have pollen collecting centers. RESULTS: Airborne pollen has two peak seasons:May and September in Korea. There were the tree pollen seasons from the middle of February to late July, then followed the grasses and weed season from the middle of July to the end of October. Ragweed was one of the most common pollens of autumn in Korea. In skin prick tests, Mugwort was the highest sensitization rate(7.6 percent), followed by ragweed(7.1 percent), birch(6.1 percent), alder, grasses mix among the pollen extracts in Korean school aged children. Ragweed pollen counts have gradually increased since 2000. In the same period, sensitization rates for airborne pollen, especially weeds, in Korean children have increased annually(1999:4.4 percent, 2000:7.1 percent, 2001:7.4 percent, 2002:8.5 percent, 2003:7.7 percent). CONCLUSION: Sensitization rates for outdoor airborne pollens have increased in Korean children. These findings might result from the changes of life styles and living environments in Korea.

The sensitization rate to house dust mites and the prevalence of asthma in healthy young women / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: During the past few decades, the prevalence of allergic disorders has increased worldwide. We attempted to reveal the sensitization rate of dust mite allergens, which is one of the most important allergens in Korea, and the prevalence of mite-sensitized asthma in healthy young women who had no history of allergic diseases. METHODS: We performed the skin prick test with two mites (Dermatophagoides farinae, Df; Dermatophagoides pteronnyssinus, Dp) in 24-26 years old 172 women who had no history of allergic diseases. We also performed the methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) and the questionnaire survey of positive skin responders. RESULTS: The 55.2% of subjects showed positive skin responses to house dust mites. The positive rate to MBPT was 54.7% with average PC20 of 15.97+/-7.68 mg/ml and 48.4% had asthma symptoms in the questionnaire survey. Among the methacholine positive population, 6.3% had no asthma symptoms. The history of 3-week cough after upper airway infection was most important, but the most specific item was wheezing. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dust mite-sensitive bronchial asthma in healthy young women is 26.7%, which is higher than that of previous studies.

The sensitization rates of food allergens in a Korean population: a multi-center study / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to food allergens is associated with development of food allergy. Although rates of sensitization to food allergens are different according to countries, there has not been surveyed on the sensitization rate to each food allergen in Korean population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the food allergen sensitization rate among patients who visited allergy clinics at several university hospitals in Korea. METHODS: This study was carried out on 1,425 patients who visited allergy clinics with various allergic symptoms. They had skin prick test for 62 items to evaluate sensitization to food allergens. RESULT: The food allergens of which sensitization rate was above 1% were pupa of a silkworm, shrimp, chestnut, curry, potato, soybean, rice flour, buckwheat, cabbage, mackerel, abalone, lobster, turban shell, arrowroot in decreasing order. The sensitization rate of pupa was highest among them by 9.4% and that of shrimp followed by 5.8%. The sensitization rates of food allergens were generally higher in males and young adults than in those of females and old people. Atopic patients for inhalant allergens showed higher sensitization rates of food allergens than non-atopic patients for inhalant allergens. CONCLUSION: Common food allergens sensitized in a Korean population were different from those in other countries. Pupa of a silkworm, shrimp, chestnut, curry, potato, soybean, rice flourbuckwheat, cabbage, mackerel were the 10 most common food allergens sensitized in Korean population above 10 years old.

Tyrophagus putrescentiae: An imporiant allergen in Daejeon / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: Tyrophagus putrescentiae is one of the storage mites found not only within storehouses but also in the house dust, and is known as the third most common mite following Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae in houses in Korea. There has been few reports on its sensitization rate in this country. OBJECT: The aim of this study was to evaluate its sensitization rate and clinical features of T. putrescentiae sensitized patients with allergic diseases in Daejeon area. METHODS: Skin prick tests with 33 common inhalant allergens including Tetranychus urticae and T. putrescentiae were done in 308 allergy patients who had visited Allergy Clinic of Eulji University Hospital from June, 2001 to April, 2002, and their clinical characteristics of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 193(62.7%) out of 308 patients showed positive responses to more than one allergen. The prevalence of sensitization was highest for mites(51.9%) followed by cockroach (25.0%), weeds pollens(17.5%), animal epithelium(16.9%), fungi(16.2%), grasses pollens(15.6%) and tree pollens(14.6%). Among mites, sensitization rate to T. urticae was highest as 128 (41.6%), followed by D. farinae, 96(31.2%), T. putrescentiae, 95(30.8%), and D. pteronyssinus, 92(29.9%). Among positive responders to mites, eight patients with perennial asthma were sensitized to T. putrescentiae only. Sensitization to D. farinae and animal epithelium were more prevalent in Deajeon city compared to surrounding rural areas (for D. farinae, 72/203(35.5%) vs. 24/105(22.9%) respectively. P=.024, and for animal epithelium, 42/203(20.7%) vs. 10/105 (9.5%) respectively. P=.013). CONCLUSION: Tyrophagus putrescentiae was one of the most common inhalant allergens as well as house dust mite and two spotted spider mite in patients visiting an Allergy Clinic in Daejeon area. Further study will be needed to elucidate the clinical significance of T. putres-centiae -sensitized patients.

Sensitization rate of Trichophyton spp. allergen in various allergic diseases and identification of its allergens with immunoblotting / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton is one of the most common genera of dermatophytes. It has been reported that Trichophyton spp. might be one of the causative allergens in patients with asthma, rhinitis, urticaria and angioedema. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the sensitization rate of Trichophyton, to determine serum specific IgE antibody, and to confirm Trichophyton as a causative antigen in patients with allergic diseases. METHODS: A total of 1,806 patients were enrolled in this study. Skin prick test was performed with 50 common inhalant allergens and 20 food allergens. Serum specific IgE antibodies were determined by ELISA using Trichophyton mentagrophytes antigen in 60 patients among positive skin responders to Trichophyton antigens and in 20 controls. For evaluation of cross-reactivity between Trichophyton and other fungal species, competitive ELISA inhibition test was performed. SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot analysis using T. mentagrophytes antigen were applied in 7 patients with high specific IgE titers. RESULTS: 102 patients (5.7%) showed positive response to T. mentagrophytes on skin prick test, and six patients showed isolated positive responses. Serum specific IgE increased according to skin reactivity (p<0.05). SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot showed 10 IgE-binding components (11, 17, 27, 32, 35, 38, 42, 48, 49, 51 kDa) within Trichophyton extracts. Trichophyton-ELISA inhibition test showed dose-dependent inhibitions with additions of Trichophyton antigens, while minimal inhibitions were noted with additions of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Clados- porium. CONCLUSIONS: Trichophyton could induce IgE sensitization in allergy patients. The sensitization rate on skin prick test was 5.7%. Trichophyton antigen should be included in skin prick test battery to screen causative agents for allergy patients.

Sensitization rate to Tetranychus urticae in patients visiting the allergy clinic in Cheonan area / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: Tetranychus urticae (two spotted spider mite, TSM) is considered to be an important outdoor allergen, especially among farmers as an occupational allergen. TSM may be an important allergen in Cheonan area because this area is surrounded by many pear orchards where TSM is commonly found. OBJECTIVES: To determine the sensitization rate to TSM in Cheonan area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rates of sensitization to common inhalant allergens were analyzed in the 456 patients who visited the allergy clinic in Dankook University Hospital, and skin prick tests were done with 55 common inhalent allergens and TSM extract. RESULTS: The sensitization rate to Dermatophagoides farinae (37.7%) was highest followed by TSM (29.6%) and 25 (5.5%) patients were sensitized to TSM only. Sensitization rate to TSM was the highest in the third and fourth decades. Up to 50% of asthmatics aggravated during the summer season were sensitized to TSM. CONCLUSION: TSM was the second most common sensitized allergen in patients visiting the allergy clinic in Cheonan area. These results suggest that TSM must be an important outdoor allergen in rural areas.

Change of causative inhalant allergens in respiratory allergic patients in Chungbuk district / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: Detection of causative allergens in respiratory allergy patients is important for diagnosis and selection of treatment modality. Allergen sensitization depends on the genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to allergens. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, we tried to find causative inhalant allergens in respiratory allergy patients who underwent skin prick test with common 55 inhalant allergens and RAST at Chungbuk National University Hospital in Chungbuk district. We also evaluated the changes of causative allergens because the environment here may be quite different, since the main population lives in the urban area and industrialization began later than in the other cities and districts. RESULTS: The major allergen was house dust mite, and its sensitivity rate did not change annually. Other indoor allergens such as cockroach, and animal dander including cat and dog showed similar trends. But the sensitization rate to tree and weed pollen except grass had significantly increased since 1995. Among pollens, the increase of sensntization to weed pollen was more marked. Ratio of sensitization rate to double or triple kinds of allergens also increased. CONCLUSION: Taken together, house dust mite is still the major allergen, but rate to pollen sensitization, especially to weed pollen has increased rapidly and significantly. It is suggested that causative allergens in repiratory allergy patients has begun to shift to pollen recently.