The evaluation of trigger allergen is important for the treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis (AR). Several nationwide studies revealed that there were regional differences in prevalence of allergy sensitization for individual allergens and allergen types. In this study, using MAST CLA, we evaluate the allergen in AR patients in state level; Gwangju, Jeonnam area. We evaluated the differences in allergic sensitization across the levels of urbanization.
Methods
A total of 873 patients from Gwangju-Jeonnam region with allergic symptoms underwent MAST. Total nasal score (TNS) and serum total IgE were evaluated. 39 panels were evaluated in MAST and allergens with results greater than class 2(≥0.7 IU/mL) in considered as positive. Prevalence and distributions of allergen-specific IgEs and their correlations to serum total IgE and TNS were analyzed according to levels of urbanization and age.
Results
The mean age of study population was 30.3 years. A total of 873 patients enrolled in this study; 513 patients from urban, 327 patients from rural regions. Among study population, 65.8% had positive test results to at least 1 of the 39 allergen and 80.1% of patients had positive test results to multiple allergen. The prevalence of allergic sensitization differed significantly by age. Younger patients tend to had positive test result to perennial allergen. However, older patients tend to had positive test result to seasonal allergen. There was no difference in positive test result between patients from urban and rural areas.
Conclusions: A large portion of the study population is sensitized to indoor and outdoor allergens. However, the overall prevalence of sensitization and the prevalence of sensitization to individual allergens and allergen type showed no differenced according to the level of urbanization in a state.