No Concentration Decrease of House Dust Mite Allergens With Rising Altitude in Alpine Regions
| Autor: | Carina Grafetstätter, Josef Thalhamer, Johanna Prossegger, Arnulf Hartl, Christina Pichler, Herbert Braunschmid, Penelope Hahne, Renata Sanovic |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Allergy Immunology medicine.disease_cause Toxicology 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Allergen Altitude medicine Hypersensitivity Immunology and Allergy Relative humidity allergens 030212 general & internal medicine Asthma House dust mite biology Ecology business.industry Pyroglyphidae pyroglyphidae Effects of high altitude on humans asthma biology.organism_classification medicine.disease respiratory tract diseases 030228 respiratory system Original Article business |
| Zdroj: | Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research |
| ISSN: | 2092-7363 2092-7355 |
| Popis: | Purpose Several studies over the past 4 decades have indicated a significant reduction in house dust mite (HDM) and HDM allergen concentration in areas higher than 1,500 m above sea level. These have served as basis of allergen avoidance therapies for HDM allergy and asthma. However, modern construction techniques used in the insulation, heating, and glazing of buildings as well as global warming have changed the environmental parameters for HDM living conditions. The present study revisits the paradigm of decreasing HDM allergen concentrations with increasing altitude in the alpine region of Germany and Austria. Methods A total of 122 dust samples from different abodes (hotels, privates and mountain huts) at different altitudes (400-2,600 m) were taken, and concentrations of HDM allergens were analyzed. Humidity and temperature conditions, and numerous indoor environmental parameters such as fine dust, type of flooring, age of building, and frequency of cleaning were determined. Results HDM allergen concentrations did not significantly change with increasing altitude or relative humidity. At the level of indoor parameters, correlations could be found for different flooring types and the concentration of HDM allergens. Conclusions In contrast to the widespread view of the relationship between altitude and HDM allergen concentrations, clinically relevant concentrations of HDM allergens could be detected in high-lying alpine regions in Austria and Germany. These results indicate that improvement in conditions of asthmatic patients sensitized against HDMs during a stay at high altitude can no longer be ascribed to decreased levels of HDM allergens, instead, other mechanisms may trigger the beneficial effect. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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