title: Changes in allergen sensitization over the last 30 years in Korea respiratory allergic patients: a single-center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determining the culprit allergen is important for the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases. The skin prick test (SPT) has been widely used to identify culprit allergens. Skin reactivity to allergens has changed due to changes in lifestyle and outdoor environments. Therefore, the aim of the present paper was to examine changes in allergen sensitization in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 1,135 patients with respiratory allergic diseases who were diagnosed at Severance Hospital from January 2010 to December 2011. SPTs were performed with inhalant allergens, and were compared to our previous studies of the SPTs in the 1980s and the 1990s.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 2010s, the SPT positive rate of allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis was higher than asthma without allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis. The SPT positive rate was decreased by increments of age (P value <0.01). Skin reactivity to tree pollens was significantly increased to 36.4% in the 2010s from 19.0% in the 1990s and 8.8% in the 1980s. Among tree pollens, skin reactivity to oak (4.7%->14.4%), birch (7.1%->13.6%), alder (6.3%->13.4%) and pine (2.9%->14.3%) was significantly increased in the 2010s compared with the 1990s, respectively. Current skin reactivity to grass pollens (13.9%) and weed pollens (27.0%) has significantly decreased since the 1990s (20.3%, 40.9%, respectively). Skin reactivity to house dust mites showed no difference between the 1990s (55.2%) and the 2010s (55.6%). Skin reactivity to dog (27.3%->20.7%) and cockroach (25.3%->12.3%) have significantly decreased in the 2010s in comparison with the 1990s.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In light of the above results, we revealed the changes in skin reactivity to inhalant allergens that have occurred in Korean allergic patients over the past three decades. Since outdoor environmental factors such as the amount of pollen, global warming and plant distribution causes the changes in skin reactivity, further study and continuous close observation will be needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3605-5364
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chein-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Change; Korea; allergen; skin test