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Risk levels for mite allergens. Are they meaningful?
1North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Allergy
|March 30, 1999
Summary
Measuring house dust mite allergens in settled dust is the best way to assess exposure and asthma risk. Expressing results per unit weight and area provides a clear index for understanding asthma severity and development in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Immunology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- House dust allergens are common environmental exposures.
- Standardized methods are crucial for linking allergen exposure to asthma severity.
- Monoclonal antibody assays are the primary method for allergen exposure assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the optimal index for measuring mite allergen exposure.
- To investigate factors influencing accurate allergen exposure assessment.
- To establish reliable exposure thresholds for asthma development and exacerbation.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated reservoir dust versus airborne sampling for allergen measurement.
- Compared allergen expression per unit weight versus per unit area.
- Utilized monoclonal antibody-based assays for allergen quantification.
Main Results:
- Airborne sampling lacks sufficient sensitivity for reliable results.
- Reservoir dust measurement is the most validated index of exposure.
- Results should be reported both per unit weight and per unit area.
Conclusions:
- Reservoir dust allergen concentration is the best index for exposure assessment.
- Exposure exceeding 2 microg Group 1 mite allergen/g dust is a risk factor for IgE antibody and asthma in susceptible children.
- A clear dose-response relationship exists, but symptom provocation thresholds are complex and not well-defined.