CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF ALLERGIC SENSITIZATION TO COCKROACHES IN PATIENTS WITH MITE RELATED RESPIRATORY ALLERGY

The aim of our study was the evaluation of the clinical significance o f allergic sensitization to cockroaches (C) in subjects with skin pric k test (SPT) positivity only to mites, since we previously demonstrate d a frequent association of SPT positivity between the allergens of th ese parasites. We studied 231 patients with mite related respiratory s ymptoms and living in the Naples area in order to obtain a highly homo geneous sample. All patients underwent anamnestic procedures, physical examination, SPT by using commercially available materials and an ext ract containing the whole bodies of three C. Specific C IgE assays wer e carried out only in C SPT positive patients. 34 of 231 subjects show ed a SPT positivity to C allergens with a moderate/low degree of SPT r esponses and serum specific IgE levels. The results of this study conf irm our previous report on the slight role of C as sensitizing agents of the respiratory tract in Southern Italy. Further studies should be carried out in subjects with a higher risk of environmental exposure b y using better purified and standardized allergenic extracts. We sugge st moreover to perform in vivo and in vitro diagnostic tests for C all ergens in patients with perennial symptoms, especially in those with s light response to therapy, or potentially exposed to allergens of thes e insects.