High mite-allergen exposure increases the risk of sensitization in atopic children and young adults

Abstract Concentrations of major allergens of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) and D. farinae (Df) , Der p I and Der f I, were determined in 183 dust samples of mattresses of 133 atopic and 50 nonatopic children by a sandwich-type ELISA. Atopic children and young adults living in houses with high levels of Der p I and Der f I (≥2000 ng/gm of dust) were found to have significantly higher serum IgE levels to Dpt and Df ( p Der p I; 86% of highly exposed (≥10,000 ng/gm) children demonstrated positive histamine release in response to Der p I compared to 17% in the group with very low exposure ( r s = 0.6; p r s = 0.54; p Der p I and mite-allergen exposure. The relative risk for sensitization in the highly exposed group versus the group with very low exposure was sevenfold to 32-fold increased. We conclude that high concentrations of mite allergen (≥2000 ng/gm) increase the risk of specific sensitization in atopic children and young adults and thus may facilitate allergic airway disease.