title: House dust mite allergen levels in households and correlation with allergic rhinitis symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  House dust mite (HDM) allergen is a risk factor for the development of allergic rhinitis (AR).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the levels of indoor allergens in the households of patients with AR in Wuhan city, identify the environmental risk factors for high allergen exposure, and investigate the correlations between allergen exposure and specific immunoglobulin E levels and symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study examined 50 patients with AR. Two dust samples were collected from the bedding of each patient, one in summer and one in winter. Major allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1, from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae, were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire about their living environments, and their rhinitis symptom scores were calculated. Specific immunoglobulin E levels against Der p and Der f were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of bedding samples with high HDM allergen (Der f 1 + Der p 1) levels (>10 μg/g) was 44% in summer and 46% in winter. There was no significant difference between the level of mite allergens in summer and winter; however, the level of Der f 1 was higher than that of Der p 1 (p < 0.05). The age of the mattress and pillow was significantly correlated with allergen concentration. Indoor HDM allergen level affected the severity of nasal itching.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HDMs are important indoor allergens in Wuhan. Mattresses and pillows that have been used for a long time contain high levels of allergens. High levels of exposure to HDM allergens correlates with the severity of nasal itching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jinghui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Quanming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zizhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yiwu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1