Prevalence of common sensitizing aeroallergens in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a skin disease burden worldwide, is a complex, multifactorial, chronic inflammatory disease. Prevalence of AD is increasing in developing countries and identifying the causative allergens is a major challenge. Aeroallergens are shown to aggravate atopic dermatitis. Explore the prevalence of aeroallergens sensitization in patients with AD and its possible relation with AD severity. Cross-sectional study of 132 patients diagnosed to have atopic dermatitis. Atopy was detected by serum specific IgE to a panel of the most encountered aeroallergens. From the 132 patients, elevated specific IgE was detected in 72.7% from which 59.1% were mild and 86.4% are moderate/severe as well as 15.9% are mono-sensitized and 54.5% are poly-sensitized with poly-sensitization being more in severe cases compared to mild cases (68.2% vs 4.5%). Regarding specific IgE to different aeroallergens, the most prevalent were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (50%), followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (34.1%), Birch pollen (20.5%), cat epithelium (18.2%) Regweed (15.9%), and Cockroach (9.1%). However, moderate to severe cases were more sensitized to candida (p=0.012), mix grass pollen (p=0.002), ragweed (0.00), mite (p=0.037) and cat epithelium (p=0.007). Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Birch pollen, cat epithelium Regweed and Cockroach are the most frequent sensitizing aeroallergens in atopic dermatitis.