ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis are the most important allergenic mites in Cuba. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of polysensitization and correlation of the skin prick test (SPT) reaction size to these mites in asthmatic patients. METHODS: A total of 232 adult patients with asthmatic symptoms caused by house dust and positive SPT to at least one mite were included. Standardized allergenic extracts were used in SPT. RESULTS: A total of 88.4% of patients were positive to D. siboney, 87.1% to D. pteronyssinus, and 68.1% to B. tropicalis. Sensitization to Dermatophagoides species was predominant, demonstrated by the fact that 31.9% of patients showed positive SPT to either D. siboney or D. pteronyssinus only, whereas only 5.6% was sensitized solely to B. tropicalis. Nevertheless, most patients (58.6%) were polysensitized to the 3 species. The mean wheal size produced by the different allergens in positive patients was similar (n.s. p > 0.05). Reaction size was strongly correlated (r = 0.71, p = 5.3 x 10-09) between D. siboney and D. pteronyssinus, whereas no significant correlation was found between D. pteronyssinus or D. siboney and B. tropicalis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the need to include the 3 allergens in diagnostic panels and for combined allergen-specific immunotherapy.