Hypersensitivity to aeroallergens in adult patients with atopic dermatitis develops due to the different immunological mechanisms.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease with a complex pathomechanism, it is very difficult to establish the exact factors which can either trigger or exacerbate the disease. Knowledge of the mechanisms involved in AD development can be increased by, among others, applying new diagnostic tests and careful assessment of the results obtained. The aim of this study was to determine the allergic mechanisms of hypersensitivity to selected aeroallergens in patients with AD. The study comprised 109 AD patients. In all the patients the total IgE level was measured and atopy patch tests and skin prick tests were performed. We also assessed the presence of specific IgE against house dust mite, birch-tree, mixed grass pollen and cat dander. The highest incidence of positive results was found for house dust mite allergens, irrespective of the test employed. Analysing hypersensitivity to all the examined allergens we revealed the presence of allergic mechanisms in 85.3% of the patients. In 30.2% of the examined individuals we proved a type I immunological response, in 45.9% -- both types I and IV in 9.2% -- only type IV in one patient. In 14.7% of the patients the results of all the tests performed were negative. Analysing hypersensitivity to particular aeroallergens, negative test results to house dust mite were observed in 25.8% of the patients. The percentage of positive results for birch pollen, grass pollen and cat dander were 45.0, 44.1 and 53.2, respectively. Analysis of the results showed that allergic reactions to the same aeroallergens may develop via different mechanisms. We also revealed that the coexistence of various mechanisms involved in the development of hypersensitivity to a particular aeroallergen may occur in individual patients.
Samochocki
Zbigniew
Z
Department of Dermatology, Central Clinical Hospital of Military Institute of Medicine, ul Szaserów 128, 00-909, Warsaw, Poland.
Owczarek
Witold
W
Rujna
Paweł
P
Raczka
Alicja
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D029662:Betula / Q000009:adverse effects; D002415:Cats; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006109:Poaceae / Q000009:adverse effects; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E