Prevalence of Sensitization to Tyrophagus putrescentiae in Children with Allegic Diseases / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tyr p) is known as the third most common mite following Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farina (Der f) in Korea. And it is an important allergen in allergic diseases, but there have been no reports on its sensitization rate in Korean children. The aim of this study was to evaluate its sensitization rate and the relationship between Tyr p and other parameters related to allergy. METHODS: This study included 662 allergic patients who visited the allergy clinic of Severance Children's Hospital between 2005 and 2008. Patients consisted of 472 asthmatic children, 102 patients with allergic rhinitis, 59 patients with atopic dermatitis, 7 patients with chronic urticaria and 22 patients with other diseases. Skin prick tests with 32 common allergens and measurements of peripheral blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE level and eosinophil cationic protein were performed in subjects. RESULTS: Of the 662 patients, 592 (89.4%) showed positive responses to more than one allergen. The number of patients sensitized to Tyr p was 129 (19.5%). The wheal size induced by Tyr p was positively related to age (r=0.102 P=0.009) as well as the wheal size induced by house dust (r=0.298 P<0.001), Der p (r=0.272, P<0.001) and Der f (r=0.272, P<0.001). The wheal size induced by Tyr p was also positively related to serum total eosinophil counts (r=0.101,P=0.015) and IgE (r=0.153, P<0.001) and number of positive skin prick test (r=0.272, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sensitization to Tyr p is prevalent in children with allergic disease. Therefore, this result should be considered when evaluating allergic children. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical significance of sensitization to Tyr p.