BACKGROUND: The clinical role of house dust mite (HDM) in atopic dermatitis (AD) is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence, clinical relevance and characteristics of adult-onset AD patients with positive skin prick tests (SPT) to mites. METHODS: The case record forms of adult-onset AD patients who underwent SPT at the Skin Allergy Clinic, Siriraj Hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-one of 62 patients (66.1%) had positive SPT to mites. The frequency of intrinsic AD among adult-onset AD was 4.8% (3/62). SPT to HDM tended to be positive in patients who had personal or family history of atopy, positive SPT to several specific antigens or who presented with elevated serum IgE, chelitis, recurrent conjunctivitis and perifollicular accentuation, respectively. CONCLUSION The prevalence of adult-onset AD patients with mite sensitivity was high. There were some notable features that tended to be present in mite sensitive adult-onset AD patients.
BACKGROUND: The clinical role of house dust mite (HDM) in atopic dermatitis (AD) is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence, clinical relevance and characteristics of adult-onset ADpatients with positive skin prick tests (SPT) to mites. METHODS: The case record forms of adult-onset ADpatients who underwent SPT at the Skin Allergy Clinic, Siriraj Hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-one of 62 patients (66.1%) had positive SPT to mites. The frequency of intrinsic AD among adult-onset AD was 4.8% (3/62). SPT to HDM tended to be positive in patients who had personal or family history of atopy, positive SPT to several specific antigens or who presented with elevated serum IgE, chelitis, recurrent conjunctivitis and perifollicular accentuation, respectively. CONCLUSION The prevalence of adult-onset ADpatients with mite sensitivity was high. There were some notable features that tended to be present in mite sensitive adult-onset ADpatients.