A clinical study of airborne allergens in the United Arab Emirates.
BACKGROUND
In the past 25 years the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have experienced a socioeconomic boom. The once nomadic Bedouin population of Al Ain, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, now lives in modern air-conditioned accommodation, and huge desalination plants have allowed afforestation and farming.


OBJECTIVE
To evidence responsible airborne allergens in an UAE population.


METHODS
263 UAE Nationals who attended Tawam Hospital (Al Ain, UAE) with a respiratory disease suspected of being of allergic origin, were submitted to SPT and RAST. The choice of pollinic allergens was made in accordance with the local flora and market availability. All patients were SPTed with at least the same battery of 15 pollinic and indoor allergens. Most patients were submitted to at least 4 RAST, viz Cynodon dactylon, Salsola kali, Prosopis juliflora and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.


RESULTS
71.8% patients were positive for at least one allergen. Pollen accounted for 61.6% of positive patients, with 45.2% positive to chenopodiaceae, 33% to gramineae and 23.5% to P. juliflora. Indoor allergens were positive in 30.4% of patients with 17.9% positive to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, 11% to Blatella germanica, 8.3% to Cat fur, 4.9% to Goat hair, 0.7% to Rat hair and Mouse hair and 1.5% to Candida albicans.


CONCLUSIONS
Pollen was the prominent allergen. There is room, however, for further epidemiological studies possibly with new extracts and RAST specifically designed after the species of the Gulf region.
Lestringant
G G
GG
Department of Internal Medicine, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Bener
A
A
Frossard
P M
PM
Abdulkhalik
S
S
Bouix
G
G
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D051381:Rats; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens