Current mite, cat, and dog allergen exposure, pet ownership, and sensitization to inhalant allergens in adults.
BACKGROUND
Simultaneous exposure to more than one allergen might modify the effect of individual allergens.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of current exposures to mite, cat, and dog allergen and pet ownership on sensitization in adults.


METHODS
Questionnaires, skin tests, and home visits (Der p 1, Fel d 1, and Can f 1, ELISA; mattresses, living room floors) were performed in 2502 adults. Allergen exposure was treated as a continuous variable and divided into quartiles. To investigate the interaction between allergens, quartiles for 3 allergens were added, creating arbitrary combined exposure categories.


RESULTS
In the univariate analysis, mite sensitization was associated with Der p 1 in mattresses (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.19; P =.03) and with Can f 1 in living room floors (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.17; P =.05). In a multivariate regression analysis, Der p 1 in mattresses remained an independent associate of mite sensitization (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.23; P =.03) and pollen sensitization (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.36; P =.0001). The proportion of subjects sensitized to mite increased significantly with the increasing combined exposure categories (P <.0001). The highest prevalence of sensitization to cat and dog was in the medium combined exposure categories. Cat ownership was associated with a reduced prevalence of sensitization to cats (P =.002) and a reduced prevalence of sensitization to dog (P =.003) but had no effect on sensitization to mite and pollen.


CONCLUSIONS
Sensitization to dust mites increased with the increasing combined exposure. Cat ownership was associated with a lower prevalence of sensitization to cat and dog but not to mite and grass pollen.
Custovic
Adnan
A
North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, United Kingdom.
Simpson
Bridget M
BM
Simpson
Angela
A
Hallam
Claire L
CL
Marolia
Helen
H
Walsh
Dawn
D
Campbell
Jacqui
J
Woodcock
Ashley
A
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000276:immunology*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D002415:Cats; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C091462:allergen Can f I; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus