Cockroach and Dermatophagoidespteronyssinuscross-react

Abstract

To the Editor:Recently, Birnbaum et al. in their article "Cockroaches and mites share the same beds" showed a correlation between sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) and cockroach (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;96:561-2). They concluded that although cross-reactivity could not be ruled out, these allergens commonly coexist in the same environment. We can confirm the finding of a correlation between DP and cockroach, but our results do not support their hypothesis.In a multicenter study, comprising 2111 atopic patients from eight countries in northern Europe, we performed skin prick tests (SPTs) with common inhalant allergens, as well as with cockroach and red mosquito larvae. We found a significant correlation between results of SPTs with cockroach and DP (p < 0.001). The total agreement (both positive or both negative) was 71%, and the correlation coefficient was 0.15.Table IRelationship between SPT results with DP and occurrence of cockroaches at homeCockroaches at home?Positive SPT response to DP (%)Positive SPT response to cockroach (%)Scandinavian patients Yes, presently (n = 22)3636 No (n = 1360)2017 Yes, earlier (n = 51)2810 SignificanceNSp<0.05Patients from Russia, Estonia, and Lithuania Yes, presently (n = 2132428 No (n = 2673218 Yes, earlier (n = 1822524 Significancep<0.05 (inverse correlation)p<0.05NS, Not significant. Open table in a new tab Table IIRelationship between SPT responses to cockroach and to DP, cat, Cladosporium spp., red mosquito larvae and shrimpPositive SPT responseSPT response to cockroachDP (%)Cat (%)CladosporiumRML (%)Shrimp (%)Scandinavian patients Negative (n = 1271)1756438 Positive (n = 258)364683532 Significancep<0.001p<0.01 (inverse correlation)p<0.01p<0.001p<0.001Patients from Russia, Estonia, and Lithuania Negative (n = 531)2736239 Positive (n = 154)324452426 SignificanceNSNSp<0.05p<0.001p<0.001RML, Red mosquito larvae; NS, not significant. Open table in a new tab It seems to us that the correlation between D. pteronyssinus and cockroach (as well as with red mosquito larvae and shrimp) more probably is due to the existence of cross-reactions than to “the same beds.”1/8/73117 To the Editor:Recently, Birnbaum et al. in their article "Cockroaches and mites share the same beds" showed a correlation between sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) and cockroach (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;96:561-2). They concluded that although cross-reactivity could not be ruled out, these allergens commonly coexist in the same environment. We can confirm the finding of a correlation between DP and cockroach, but our results do not support their hypothesis.In a multicenter study, comprising 2111 atopic patients from eight countries in northern Europe, we performed skin prick tests (SPTs) with common inhalant allergens, as well as with cockroach and red mosquito larvae. We found a significant correlation between results of SPTs with cockroach and DP (p < 0.001). The total agreement (both positive or both negative) was 71%, and the correlation coefficient was 0.15.Table IRelationship between SPT results with DP and occurrence of cockroaches at homeCockroaches at home?Positive SPT response to DP (%)Positive SPT response to cockroach (%)Scandinavian patients Yes, presently (n = 22)3636 No (n = 1360)2017 Yes, earlier (n = 51)2810 SignificanceNSp<0.05Patients from Russia, Estonia, and Lithuania Yes, presently (n = 2132428 No (n = 2673218 Yes, earlier (n = 1822524 Significancep<0.05 (inverse correlation)p<0.05NS, Not significant. Open table in a new tab Table IIRelationship between SPT responses to cockroach and to DP, cat, Cladosporium spp., red mosquito larvae and shrimpPositive SPT responseSPT response to cockroachDP (%)Cat (%)CladosporiumRML (%)Shrimp (%)Scandinavian patients Negative (n = 1271)1756438 Positive (n = 258)364683532 Significancep<0.001p<0.01 (inverse correlation)p<0.01p<0.001p<0.001Patients from Russia, Estonia, and Lithuania Negative (n = 531)2736239 Positive (n = 154)324452426 SignificanceNSNSp<0.05p<0.001p<0.001RML, Red mosquito larvae; NS, not significant. Open table in a new tab It seems to us that the correlation between D. pteronyssinus and cockroach (as well as with red mosquito larvae and shrimp) more probably is due to the existence of cross-reactions than to “the same beds.” Recently, Birnbaum et al. in their article "Cockroaches and mites share the same beds" showed a correlation between sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) and cockroach (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;96:561-2). They concluded that although cross-reactivity could not be ruled out, these allergens commonly coexist in the same environment. We can confirm the finding of a correlation between DP and cockroach, but our results do not support their hypothesis. In a multicenter study, comprising 2111 atopic patients from eight countries in northern Europe, we performed skin prick tests (SPTs) with common inhalant allergens, as well as with cockroach and red mosquito larvae. We found a significant correlation between results of SPTs with cockroach and DP (p < 0.001). The total agreement (both positive or both negative) was 71%, and the correlation coefficient was 0.15. NS, Not significant. RML, Red mosquito larvae; NS, not significant. It seems to us that the correlation between D. pteronyssinus and cockroach (as well as with red mosquito larvae and shrimp) more probably is due to the existence of cross-reactions than to “the same beds.” 1/8/73117