Relationship between Dermatophagoides mite density and specific immune response in asthmatic patients
Saha, G.K.
Annals of Allergy 73(5): 429-433
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-4738 PMID: 7978536 Document Number: 434931
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae mites were abundant in the beds of asthmatic patients of Calcutta, India, comprising >60% of the total mites isolated in this study. The patients' bed dust harboured significantly more dense mite populations as compared with bed dust samples of control subjects. The patients' sera contained significantly higher IgE concentrations than the sera of the controls and the sera of 92% patients were found to have elevated IgE levels of >300 U/mL. 85 and 82% of patients responded positively to Dermatophagoides allergen by RAST and skin prick test, respectively. The results indicate that with a 10-fold increase in mite density in the patients' bed dust, the group mean serum IgE level increased considerably. The increase in the total serum IgE and in the frequency of positive RASTs and prick test to Dermatophagoides for allergic asthmatic patients correlated quite well with the increase in the specific mite density in their beds.