Relationship between exposure to dust mite allergen and bronchial response to exercise in schoolchildren sensitized to dust mites

Abstract

We assessed the relationship between the exposure to dust mite allergens and a bronchial response to exercise in 8-year-old schoolchildren. Dust was collected from the mattresses of 1, 291 children and the concentration of mite allergens was estimated by a commercially available ELISA test using monoclonal antibodies (ALK, Copenhagen) against the major allergens of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der pt) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f). A positive bronchial response to exercise (decrease of peak expiratory flow ≥ 5% after exercise) occurred in 21 (22.6%) of 101 children sensitized to mite allergens (wheal size ≥4 mm) and in 51 (4.8%) of 1, 070 nonsensitized children. In the highest exposure groups (>10 μg allergen/g dust), 15% of children sensitized to Der f and 20% of children sensitized to Der pt were responsive to exercise. Corresponding figures for the lowest exposure groups (< 0.4 μg allergen/g dust) were 11 and 28%, respectively. This negative finding may indicate that measurement of allergen concentration in mattresses does not reflect true exposure or alternatively that at the age of 8 years high exposure to dust mite allergens does not affect bronchial response to exercise in sensitized children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1993; 16:13–18. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.