The relevance of house dust particles to the pathology and symptoms of asthma.
By measuring Antigen P1, it has become possible to define the quantities present in house dust and also both the quantities and particle size of airborne mite allergen. The results show that natural exposure is not at all like bronchial provocation and they raise real doubts over the use of bronchial provocation as a model of the way in which allergens "cause" asthma. Since it is now clear that allergens can contribute to chronic changes in the lung as well as causing acute bronchospasm, it is obvious that allergen avoidance should be a major part of the management of allergenic asthma. We believe that changing/cleaning houses can be highly beneficial to these patients and that improved methods of measuring allergens and improved methods of cleaning houses including the use of acaricides will progressively increase the role of allergen specific management of asthmatic patients.
Platts-Mills
T A
TA
University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D008925:Mites
D004391:Dust