[Skin prick tests with standardized extracts of mites of different precedence in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis].

BACKGROUND

House dust mites are important airborne allergens worldwide, particularly in the tropical environment.

OBJECTIVE

To assess sensitization of allergic patients to different mite species in the Cuban city of Camaguey; as well as to compare standardized allergen extracts from different sources by skin prick tests.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Skin prick tests were performed in 60 patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and in 60 non-allergic volunteers, ranging from 2 to 76 years old. In both groups, Diater-Prick lancets were used, together with Valergen extracts (Biocen, Cuba) at 20,000 BU/mL and Diater extracts (Argentina) at 50,000 UBE/PNU/mL.

RESULTS

The highest values of sensitization prevalence using Diater extracts were seen in Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), and Blomia tropicalis (Bt) in allergic patients and in non-allergic controls. Diagnostic sensitivity values were: Dp, 79; Df, 84; Bt, 84 and B. kulagini, 83%. Specificity varied from 72 to 85%. On the other hand, with Biocen extracts, the highest positivity was noted in Dp and D. siboney (Ds). Sensitivity values were 78% (Dp); 78% (Ds) and 82% (BT). Specificity values ranged from 79 to 82%.

CONCLUSIONS

The standardized allergen extracts from the assessed laboratories induced similar values of sensitivity and specificity.