IgE‐mediated allergy to Lepidoglyphus destructor in an urban population – an epidemiologic study

• Published in: Allergy
• Main Authors: Gislason, D, Gislason, T
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1999
• Subjects: Reykjavík; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00996.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1034%2Fj.1398-9995.1999.00996.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00996.x

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of IgE‐mediated allergy to Lepidoglyphus destructor and its clinical importance in Reykjavík, Iceland. Methods: All Icelandic participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Reykjavík and suburbs were skin prick tested (SPT) for L. destructor . They also participated in a structured interview including questions about exposure to hay and symptoms related to hay exposure. Spirometry and methacholine tests were also performed. Results: Altogether, 540 individuals underwent SPT with 12 allergens. Among them, 137 (25.4%) had positive skin tests, defined as at least one mean wheal reaction of ≥1 mm. By this definition, 34 (6.3%) were positive to L. destructor . These 34 individuals were significantly ( P <0.001) more often allergic to D. pteronyssinus (24/34), grass (14/34), cat (13/34), dog (12/34), Alternaria (11/34), Cladosporium (9/34), horse (8/34), and olive (8/34) than those not allergic to L. destructor . Those SPT positive to L. destructor had a higher total IgE (geometric mean: 40.9 kU/l vs 12.3 kU/l, P <0.001) than those who were negative to L. destructor , but their lung function was comparable to that of the others. Asthma during the preceding 12 months or asthma ever suffered was not overrepresented among those SPT‐positive to L. destructor . Individuals with symptoms associated with hay exposure were more often SPT positive to L. destructor than those not having symptoms ( P <0.01). Conclusions: In a random urban population, 6.3% showed IgE‐mediated allergy to L. destructor . These were often polysensitized atopics with a high prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with exposure to hay.