[A study of characteristics in adult asthmatics who are sensitized by cats and dogs allergens]

Abstract

We studied adult asthmatics who were sensitized (RAST sore > or = 1) by cats and dogs allergens. Compared with non-sensitized asthmatics, the following some characteristics were noted in the sensitized asthmatics: 1) The histogram of the onset age of asthma showed two peaks. 2) The asthmatics sensitized by cats epithelium were more frequent and had higher RAST scores than those sensitized by dog hair dander. 3) There was a significant correlation between the RAST scores to dogs dander and dog hair. 4) There was no correlation between the RAST score to cat epithelium and dog hair. 5) The positive rations of intradermal testing to other allergens were higher in the sensitized asthmatics than in the non-sensitized asthmatics, especially to some foods allergens. 6) The asthmatics sensitized by cat and dog allergens were much more sensitized by house-dust mites than were the non-sensitized asthmatics. The asthmatics sensitized by cat and dog demonstrated being allergic to not only cat and dog allergens but also to many other allergens. We thought that the sensitized asthmatics were more atopic than the non-sensitized asthmatics and this was the reason why they were sensitized by cat and dog. The RAST scores to cat allergens were higher than the RAST scores to dog allergens. This fact showed that the cat was more important than the dog. This result agreed with our clinical experience.