Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial disease, however, the responsibility of house dust mites, such as dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) and farinae (Df) is considered as very high. Eviedence has been accumulated in the past 20 years that the responsibility of Dp for the production of elevated serum IgE of AD patients was 87.0% in 1991, and 77.2% in 2006. Patch tests of three live Dps and Dfs could provoke clear positive reactions of contact allergic nature on the second to 7th days of the patch test.
A new Methylene-blue-agar (MBA) method could demonstrate numerous Dps and Dfs in the interiors of the homes of AD patients, such as carpets, sofas, Tatami mattresses, chairs in the dining rooms, mattresses and blankets. Two randomized blind studies in Japan and the UK showed significant improvement of severe AD patients compared with controls, when mites were eliminated based on the mite fauna investigated in each patients’ home.
The importance of mite allergy in AD as well as the investigation of mite fauna in patients’ homes is stressed.
