IS HOUSE-DUST IMMUNOTHERAPY OBSOLETE

The traditional practice of immunotherapy includes house dust extract, a complex mixture of substances derived from many indoor and outdoor sources. We have questioned the use of house dust immunotherapy in pat ients who are sensitive to house dust as well as other indoor allergen s, In a retrospective analysis, we studied 80 newly diagnosed atopic i ndividuals to evaluate this association, Skin testing demonstrated tha t 90% of cockroach-sensitive patients were sensitive to house dust, 95 % of dust mite-sensitive patients were sensitive to house dust, and 10 0% of mold-sensitive patients were sensitive to house dust, In fact, 1 00% of house dust-allergic patients were also allergic to mold, cockro ach,or dust mite, There were no patients with only sensitivity to hous e dust, This study shows a high association between house dust and oth er indoor allergens, We feel house dust immunotherapy is unnecessary i n the patient who is sensitive to house dust as well as other indoor a llergens.