Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is increasing rapidly in Central China. The skin prick test (SPT) is the standard tool with which to determine the allergen sensitization status in AR patients. Changes in allergen sensitization patterns have been observed within countries and regions due to geographical and seasonal variations. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of SPT reactivity to different aeroallergens in AR patients and to suggest a minimal panel of allergens to detect sensitized patients in Central China. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2016, patients who presented to Tongji Hospital with suspected AR were tested with the same panel of 19 aeroallergens. The results of SPT were analyzed to determine the minimum test battery panel necessary to cover 99% of the cases of SPT sensitization in different age subgroups. Results: A total of 2,416 patients (male:female ratio 1.2:1) were enrolled in our study with an average age of 22.0 years. The overall rate of sensitization to any allergen was 79.0%, and 64.3% of the subjects were monosensitized. The highest sensitized rate was found in the subgroup aged 14-18 years (92.0%), followed by the subgroups of 6-14 years (86.4%), >18 years (75.6%), and ≤6 years (74.9%). The most common sensitization was to Dermatophagoides farinae (71.1%). Testing with 8 allergens (D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, Platanus, Artemisia, Cryptomeria, Blatella germanica, Humulus, and Alternaria) was sufficient to identify over 99% of the sensitized patients. Conclusion: An SPT panel covering 8 allergen extracts was able to detect almost all sensitized patients suffering from AR symptoms in Central China.

Keywords:
Aeroallergen, Allergic sensitization, Allergic rhinitis, Mite
1.
Qi S, Chen H, Huang N, Li W, Liu G, Wang Y, et al: Early intervention improves clinical responses to house dust mite immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis patients. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2016;171:234-240.
2.
Wang XD, Zheng M, Lou HF, Wang CS, Zhang Y, Bo MY, et al: An increased prevalence of self-reported allergic rhinitis in major Chinese cities from 2005 to 2011. Allergy 2016;71:1170-1180.
3.
Kong WJ, Chen JJ, Zheng ZY, Shi QM, Zhou Y: Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in 3-6-year-old children in Wuhan of China. Clin Exp Allergy 2009;39:869-874.
4.
Wang W, Huang X, Chen Z, Zheng R, Chen Y, Zhang G, et al: Prevalence and trends of sensitization to aeroallergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in Guangzhou, China: a 10-year retrospective study. BMJ Open 2016;6: e011085.
5.
Salo PM, Arbes SJ, Jaramillo R, Calatroni A, Weir CH, Sever ML, et al: Prevalence of allergic sensitization in the United States: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014;134:350-359.
6.
Heinzerling L, Mari A, Bergmann KC, Bresciani M, Burbach G, Darsow U, Durham S, Fokkens W, Gjomarkaj M, Haahtela T, Bom AT, Wohrl S, Maibach H, Lockey R: The skin prick test - European standards. Clin Transl Allergy 2013;3:3.
7.
Bousquet J, Heinzerling L, Bachert C, Papadopoulos NG, Bousquet PJ, Burney PG, et al: Practical guide to skin prick tests in allergy to aeroallergens. Allergy 2012;67:18-24.
8.
Dong X, Huang N, Li W, et al: Systemic reactions to dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy: a 3-year follow-up study. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2016;8:421-427.
9.
Sahiner UM, Civelek E, Yavuz ST, Buyuktiryaki AB, Tuncer A, Sekerel BE: Skin prick testing to aeroallergen extracts: what is the optimal panel in children and adolescents in Turkey? Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2012;157:391-398.
10.
Chang ML, Shao B, Liu YH, Li LL, Pei LC, Wang BY: Analysis of allergens in 5 473 patients with allergic diseases in Harbin, China. Biomed Environ Sci 2013;26:886-893.
11.
Yang Y, Zhao Y, Wang CS, Wang XD, Zhang L: Prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens in 10,030 patients with allergic rhinitis (in Chinese). Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2011;46:914-920.
12.
Sun BQ, Zheng PY, Zhang XW, Huang HM, Chen DH, Zeng GQ: Prevalence of allergen sensitization among patients with allergic diseases in Guangzhou, Southern China: a four-year observational study. Multidiscip Respir Med 2014;9:2.
13.
Chen J, Zhao Y, Li B, Zhang Q, Wan L, Liu J, et al: A multicenter study of the clinical features of allergic rhinitis in central China. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2014;28:392-396.
14.
Bousquet J, Khaltaev N, Cruz AA, Denburg J, Fokkens WJ, Togias A, et al: Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008. Allergy 2008;63(suppl. 86):8-160.
15.
Zheng YW, Lai XX, Zhao DY, et al: Indoor allergen levels and household distribution in nine cities across China. Biomed Environ Sci 2015;28:709-717.
16.
Wang Y, Xiong L, Yin X, Wang J, Zhang Q, Yu Z, et al: House dust mite allergen levels in households and correlation with allergic rhinitis symptoms. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2014;28:193-196.
17.
Li J, Sun B, Huang Y, Lin X, Zhao D, Tan G, et al: A multicenter study assessing the prevalence of sensitizations in patients with asthma and/or rhinitis in China. Allergy 2009;64:1083-1092.
18.
Liu GH, Zhu RF, Zhang W, Li WJ, Wang ZX, Chen H: Survey of airborne pollen in Hubei province of China. Chin Med Sci J 2008;23:212-217.
19.
Zhu R, Li W, Wang Z, Chen H, Zhang W, Liu G: A survey of airborne pollen in Wuhan and its relationship to pollinosis (in Chinese). Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2008;22:647-650.
20.
Zhu R: One-year aerobiological study in Wuhan City: pollen and fungi, air biological data, and clinical correlations; dissertation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 2011.
21.
Tang R, Sun JL, Yin J, Li Z. Artemisia allergy research in China. Biomed Res Int 2015;2015:179426.
22.
Bousquet PJ, Burbach G, Heinzerling LM, Edenharter G, Bachert C, Bindslev-Jensen C, et al: GA2LEN skin test study III: minimum battery of test inhalent allergens needed in epidemiological studies in patients. Allergy 2009;64:1656-1662.
23.
Larsen JN, Dreborg S: Standardization of allergen extracts. Methods Mol Med 2008;138:133-145.
24.
Meng L, Wang XK, Ouyang ZY, Ren YF, Wang QH: Seasonal dynamics of airborne pollens and its relationship with meteorological factors in Beijing urban area (in Chinese). Huan Jing Ke Xue 2016;37:452-458.
© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel
2017
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.