The role of the sensitization to storage mites in the diagnosis of allergic respiratory diseases

Summary Numerous studies suggest the capacity of storage mites (S.M.) to induce IgE-mediated reactions but their etiopathogenetic role in allergic respiratory diseases has not yet been established. Therefore we examined 283 patients affected by rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma resident in urban and rural areas who underwent skin tests and a RAST with a group of allergens including S.M. (Acarus s., Lepidoglyphus d., Glycyphagus d., Tyrophagus p.).The incidence of patients showing a positive reaction to S.M. was evaluated according to their place of residence and work. 48 patients were selected who resulted positive to mites; 28 of them resulted positive to S.M. and pyroglyphid and 5 to S.M. only.The relationship between skin tests and RAST for S.M. positive patients resulted high forL.d. (70%),G.d. (75%),T.p. (80%) and low forA.s. (58%). In RAST positive subjects cross-reactivity withD. ptero was evaluated:A.s. (70%),L.d. (80%),T.p. (75.4%),G.d. (78.9%).Dwelling and place of work of skin and RAST positive patients revealed an equal distribution between urban and rural populations for S.M.; however, while in urban areas the association with pyroglyphid mites is constant, the rare single sensitivities are found only in rural areas and in farmers. From our data it emerges that the allergological diagnostics must use S.M. when considering respiratory diseases of professionally exposed subjects and residents of given areas. An interpretation of their etiologic role, given the frequent association with pyroglyphid mites, will demand further diagnostic data and an identification and purification of the clinically relevant allergens.