Specific profiles of house dust mite sensitization in children with asthma and in children with eczema

• Published in: Pediatric allergy and immunology Vol. 21; no. 4p2; pp. e718 - e722
• Main Authors: Shek, Lynette Pei-Chi, Chong, Angeline R., Soh, Shu E., Cheong, Nge, Teo, Audrey S. M., Yi, Fong C., Giam, Yoke C., Chua, Kaw Y., Van Bever, Hugo P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Allergens; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - immunology; Antigens, Plant - immunology; Arthropod Proteins; asthma; Asthma - blood; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - physiopathology; Blomia tropicalis; Child; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; eczema; Eczema - blood; Eczema - diagnosis; Eczema - immunology; Eczema - physiopathology; Exanthema; Female; Humans; Immunization; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Male; Pyroglyphidae; Respiratory Sounds; sensitization
• ISSN: 0905-6157; 1399-3038
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2010.01019.x

Shek LP, Chong AR, Soh SE, Cheong N, Teo ASM, Yi FC, Giam YC, Chua KY, Van Bever HP. Specific profiles of house dust mite sensitization in children with asthma and in children with eczema.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: e718–e722.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S
Sensitization to house dust mites (HDM) is highly prevalent among the young atopic population in Singapore. Previously published data suggest that individuals with skin allergies show preferred sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus while individuals with pure respiratory allergies show preferred sensitization to Blomia tropicalis. The aim of our study was to compare the sensitization profiles between children with asthma and those with eczema to D. pteronyssinus and B. tropicalis and their specific allergens. A total of 60 children, 30 with asthma and 30 with eczema were recruited. IgE levels specific for a panel of HDM allergens from the two mite species were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The asthma group showed highest sensitization to Blo t5 while the eczema group showed highest sensitization to Der p5. Comparison between the two disease groups showed that the eczema group had significantly higher IgE levels for Der p (p = 0.042) and its allergens Der p1 (p = 0.019) and Der p5 (p = 0.001). Generally, the eczema group was more sensitized to the panel of allergens compared to the asthma group. Individuals with asthma and those with eczema showed different sensitization profiles to HDM. These findings highlighted possible mechanisms for different manifestation of allergy.