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Commercial availability of a house dust mite patch test
1Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA, USA.
Abstract:
The house dust mite long has been studied for its potential role in atopic dermatitis. Its part in the pathogenesis of asthma and allergic rhinitis has been studied and is accepted. Testing for the dust mite allergen in this arena is performed with radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) and prick testing. For several reasons, including the lack of a standardized testing tool, the difficulty in removing dust from the environment and the lack of association of dust and skin disease by patients, the role of the house dust mite in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and skin disease has been questioned. Chemotechnique Diagnostics (Malmo, Sweden) now provides a standardized dust mite allergen in petrolatum in 2 concentrations. Dermatophagoides mix is a 50:50 mix of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae at concentrations of 20% and 30%. The availability of a standardized patch test allergen for the house dust mite provides a better tool to investigate the role of this allergen as a contactant.
Insights
A standardized patch test allergen for house dust mites is now available. This new tool aids in investigating the role of dust mite allergens in atopic dermatitis and skin conditions.
Area of Science:
- Allergen immunotherapy
- Contact dermatitis research
- Dermatology and immunology
Background:
- House dust mites are implicated in asthma and allergic rhinitis.
- Their role in atopic dermatitis and skin disease is debated due to testing limitations.
- Current testing methods like radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) and prick testing have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a standardized house dust mite allergen preparation for patch testing.
- To provide a better tool for investigating house dust mite as a contactant in skin disease.
Main Methods:
- Chemotechnique Diagnostics offers a standardized dust mite allergen in petrolatum.
- The preparation, Dermatophagoides mix, contains D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae in 20% and 30% concentrations.
Main Results:
- A standardized patch test allergen for house dust mites is now available.
- This standardized allergen facilitates research into the role of dust mites in skin conditions.
Conclusions:
- The availability of standardized patch test allergens improves the investigation of contact allergens.
- This advancement offers a more reliable method to study the house dust mite's role in atopic dermatitis.
