House dust mite sensitivity is a factor in chronic urticaria.
BACKGROUND
Chronic urticaria is one of the perplexing problems faced by clinicians. There are a few reports associating house dust mite sensitivity with chronic urticaria, based upon the patient's history as well as intradermal skin testing and in vitro analysis.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible association between house dust mite sensitivity and chronic urticaria.


METHODS
In this case control study three groups of patients were enrolled. Group I: Chronic urticaria (73 subjects). Group II: Chronic urticaria with collateral allergic disorders (49 subjects). Group III: Normal subjects without chronic urticaria or other allergies (25 subjects). All the patients underwent skin prick testing with antigens of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) and Dermatophagoides farinae (DF), with positive and negative controls.


RESULTS
Among the patients with chronic urticaria, 78/122 (64%) patients had skin sensitivity to house dust mites. Out of these, 39/73 (53%) had chronic urticaria alone and 39/49 (79%) had chronic urticaria with other associated allergies. Among the normal control subjects, 7/25(28%) reacted positively to house dust mites.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests a possible association of house dust mite sensitivity with chronic urticaria.
Mahesh
P A
PA
Department of Pulmonology, JSS Medical College, Mysore, India. maheshapa@sancharnet.in
Kushalappa
P A
PA
Holla
Amrutha D
AD
Vedanthan
P K
PK
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D039981:Pyroglyphidae; D014581:Urticaria / Q000276:immunology*