title: Influence of degree of specific allergic sensitivity on severity of rhinitis and asthma in Chinese allergic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between sensitizations and severity of allergic diseases is controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was to investigate the association between severity of asthma and rhinitis and degree of specific allergic sensitization in allergic patients in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was performed in 6304 patients with asthma and/or rhinitis from 4 regions of China. Patients completed a standardized questionnaire documenting their respiratory and allergic symptoms, their impact on sleep, daily activities, school and work. They also underwent skin prick tests with 13 common aeroallergens. Among the recruited subjects, 2268 provided blood samples for serum measurement of specific IgE (sIgE) against 16 common aeroallergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher percentage of patients with moderate-severe intermittent rhinitis were sensitized to outdoor allergens while percentage of patients sensitized to indoor allergens was increased with increasing severity of asthma. Moderate-severe intermittent rhinitis was associated with the skin wheal size and the level of sIgE to Artemisia vulgaris and Ambrosia artemisifolia (p < 0.001). Moderate-severe asthma was associated with increasing wheal size and sIgE response to Dermatophagoides (D.) pteronyssinus and D. farinae (p < 0.001). Moderate-severe rhinitis and asthma were also associated with increase in number of positive skin prick test and sIgE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Artemisia vulgaris and Ambrosia artemisifolia sensitizations are associated with the severity of intermittent rhinitis and D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae sensitizations are associated with increasing severity of asthma in China. Increase in number of allergens the patients are sensitized to may also increase the severity of rhinitis and asthma.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Deyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guolin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Jinzhun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Spangfort
authors.forename: Nanshan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E