Age-related changes of sensibilization profiles to indoor inhalation allergens in the patients of the southern region of Ukraine

Abstract

Introduction: It is known that epidemiology of allergic diseases is affected by range of plants, animal and insect allergens, social and living conditions, nature of food habits of certain populations, sex and age of patients. Age-related changes in immunological sensitization profiles may also be geographically dependent. Thus, it is important to have epidemiological data that characterizes a set of primary importance allergens for different age groups for each particular geographic region. The purpose of the study: Identify profiles of sensitization to household allergens, which often cause respiratory manifestations of allergic diseases throughout the year in patients of different age groups in the Southern region of Ukraine. Materials and methods: Patients from Southern Region of Ukraine aged 1 to 84 years were included in the study. During 2015-2018 years, we examined 2197 patients living in the Southern region of Ukraine (Odessa and Mykolaiv regions) with suspected respiratory allergic diseases and/or proven allergic diagnosis (pollinosis, allergic rhinconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma) for presence of IgE antibodies to household respiratory allergens by immunoblotting method. Results & discussion: The highest percentage of positive reactions in whole pool of patients was shown to mould Alternaria alternata (40,7%±1,0%), storage mite Acarus siro (38,7%±1,3%) and domestic dust mite D.pteronyssinus (28,3%±0,9%). First rise of antibodies to Alternaria alternata was registered from age 0-5 to 5-10 (46,3%±2,0% to 54,2%±2,6% respectively, p<0,05) and then were gradually decreased up to age group 20-25 and stay at the same level during life. Antibodies to dust mites and cat epithelium were gradually decreased with age, in the same time antibodies to storage mites were gradually increased and reached the highest percentage at the age 20-30 years (48,6%±4,2%). Conclusion:Our study showed that in the Southern region of Ukraine antibodies to mouse and rat epithelium was registered from early age in high levels: 37,1%±4,5% and 24,1±4,0% respectively. Level of antibodies to mould Alternaria alternata (m6) in the Southern region of Ukraine was unexpectedly high. It was the highest comparing to data from other countries. On the base of our data could be proposed main target-allergens for examination of allergic patients in different ages.