[Relation between Der p2 and Der f2 antigen levels in house dust and the degree of sensitization in asthmatic patients].
BACKGROUND
The continuous exposure to high levels of environmental allergens, as dust mite, gets worse the reactivity of the airways as mentioned in previous studies. In other international studies, it has been determined the levels of house dust mite antigen needed to sensitize asthmatic patients, but few studies in Mexico have measured the concentration of house dust mite antigen before the initial treatment and correlated the sensitization to it with the levels of total IgE and the skin test.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the minimum concentration of house dust mite antigen required to sensitize patients with asthma at the Distrito Federal and if it exists a correlation between the different concentration of the antigen, the results of the skin test and the total IgE.


METHODS
Thirty patients with asthma and positive skin test to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus took part in the study. We made a home visit to measure the concentration of Der p2 and Der f2 in house dust and we scheduled a visit at our hospital to measure the IgE total level. We did a statistical analysis with the chi square test and the correlation coefficient of Pearson and we found that the lower level needed to sensitize was 0.2 micrograms of antigen per gram of house dust. It did not exist a correlation between the total IgE levels and the concentration of the mite antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
To a higher level of the house dust mite antigen we found more sensitization to it, as shown by the skin test but without direct relation with the total IgE levels in patients with asthma.
Maldonado
Alberto Monteverde
AM
Departamento de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo Lopez Mateos. Av. Universidad 1321, Col. Florida, CP 01414, Mexico, DF. albertmont@hotmail.com
Solano
Modesto Orea
MO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology*; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D009093:Mucus / Q000166:cytology; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; C451160:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 2; C451163:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 2; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E