Allergic Sensitization Pattern in the Korean Dermatologic Patients

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Allergy and Clinical Immunology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Allergic disease prevalence is rising globally due to environmental and lifestyle factors.
• Understanding trends in common allergen sensitization is crucial for effective disease control.
• Limited data exists on long-term shifts in allergen prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the 10-year trend of common allergen sensitization in Korea.
• To analyze changes in specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels using MAST-CLA.
• To inform updated strategies for allergy prevention and management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 5,760 adult patients' medical records over 10 years.
• Measurement of total and specific IgE levels against 41 allergens via MAST-CLA.
• Analysis included clinical diagnoses, illness duration, and eosinophil counts.

Main Results:

• House dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus) and house dust were consistently prevalent.
• Sensitization to house dust, dogs, and cats significantly increased over the study period.
• Sensitization to cockroaches and storage mites significantly decreased.
• No significant change was observed in the total number of sensitizing allergens per patient.

Conclusions:

• Significant shifts in common allergen sensitization patterns have occurred over the past decade in Korea.
• The findings necessitate re-evaluation of current allergy prevention and management approaches.
• Physicians and patients should adapt strategies based on evolving allergen exposure trends.