Allergenic materials in the house dust of allergy clinic patients

Introduction: Environmental agents including animal, fungal, tree, and weed antigens are known to cause allergic rhinitis and asthma. The following st udy was performed to measure the antigen concentration of several of these in house dust of children seen in an allergy clinic. Comparisons are made b etween household allergen levels of children seen for asthma and children s een for other reasons. Methods: Dust samples were solicited from patients in a pediatric allergy s pecialty clinic and other individuals associated with the clinic. Persons s ubmitting dust were asked to complete a questionnaire describing their hous e. Samples were extracted, centrifuged, and filtered for sterility. Samples were stored in 50% glycerol at -20 degrees C. Specific antigens for Altern aria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Candida, Dermatophagoides farinae, cat, do g, oak, fescue, ragweed, plantain, and cockroach were measured using inhibi tion assays developed with whole antigen extract. Allergens Der p1, Der f 1 , Alt a 1, and Alt a 70 kD were measured using double monoclonal antibody a ssays. Results: Significant concentrations of whole antigen from cat, dog, oak, Al ternaria, and Cladosporium were detected. Between 0.1 and 18 mug of Der f1 and Der p1 per gram of dust were also measured. Alt a I and Alt a 70 kD lev els varied between 3.0 and 1000 U/g of dust. Significant positive correlati ons were observed in levels of dust mite and Alternaria allergen for patien ts with an evaluation of asthma. Conclusions: We found measurable levels of fungal antigens (Alternaria, Cla dosporium), mite antigens, and animal antigens (dog and cat) in the majorit y of dust samples in this self-selected set of allergy clinic patients. Spe cific allergens Alt a 1, Alt a 70kD, and Der p 1 were significantly higher in the homes of asthmatic patients when compared with patients seen for rea sons other than asthma. These studies support the hypothesis that fungal al lergen exposure is an important component in the pathogenesis of the clinic al condition known as asthma.