Positive Patch Tests To Whole Mite Culture And Purified Mite Extracts In Patients With Atopic-Dermatitis, Asthma, And Rhinitis

Patch tests with Dermatophagoides were carried out by different authors on patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) employing methods varying both in the type of allergen and in the way of performing the test. In order to examine and compare different methods and various allergenic materials and to define better the indications for this test, we performed patch tests with whole mite culture or purified mite extracts on 72 patients with AD, 40 subjects with mucosal atopy, and 32 healthy volunteers, employing different techniques of application. Positive results were obtained in 51.5% of patients with AD with specific IgE to Dermatophagoides, in 43.6% of patients with AD without this specific IgE and in 40% of subjects affected by mucosal atopy and having specific IgE to Dermatophagoides. From a technical point of view the simple application of the allergenic material on healthy skin gave the best results. Our data show that patch tests with Dermatophagoides extracts could contribute to a better immunoallergologic characterization both of patients with AD and patients with mucosal atopy.