Abstract
Few studies shed light on trans-regional differences in allergen sensitization between vast regions within a similar latitudinal range but with distinct geomorphological features. We aimed to detect specific IgE (sIgE) positivity to common allergens in populations from two southern China provinces. Using a uniformed protocol, serum was collected from 2778 allergic patients in coastal Guangdong and inland Yunnan, and examined for sIgE to local allergens including house dust mite, cockroach, tree pollen mix, mold mix, dog dander, crab, shrimp, egg white and milk. The overall sIgE positive rates were 58.4% in patients from Guangdong vs 61.0% from Yunnan. House dust mite (d1) was the most common allergen in both regions, figure 1. Among d1-sensitized patients, only 35.7% (208/583) in Guangdong and 22.9% (147/642) in Yunnan tested positive for house dust mite alone. Among those poly-sensitized d1-positive subjects, cockroach was the most common co-sensitizing aeroallergen in either province. 41.9% of the d1-sensitized Guangdong subjects had class 4 or higher response, in drastic contrast to a very low percentage of such reactivity in Yunnan subjects. However, a high proportion of d1-sensitized patients in Yunnan (36.3%) were concomitantly positive for tree pollen mix, figure 2. Surprisingly, Yunnan patients showed high sIgE-positive rates for crabs and shrimps, either by an overall or by age-group analysis, compared with their Guangdong counterparts (both P < 0.05). These findings may add to data for evidence-based management of local allergies in China and worldwide.
- Copyright ©the authors 2017