In late childhood, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p 23) sensitization peaks and later decreases and is preceded by early dust mite exposure and atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a study published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. Researchers obtained sera and clinical data from 191 individuals in a prospective birth cohort. They analyzed serum samples from birth to age 20 with Der p 23-specific IgE antibody (sIgE) reactivity to Der p 23 in a customized semi-quantitative microarray. Early exposure to mites was evaluated by measuring the average content of Der p 1 in house dust at 6 and 18months. In 51% of participants, Der p 23-sIgE levels were detected at least once. Until age 10, prevalence of Der p 23 sensitization and mean sIgE levels increased, plateaued until age 13, and were lowest at age 20. In Der p 23-sensitive children, AD, asthma, and allergic rhinitis (AR) were more prevalent, including in those children with monomolecular but persistent sensitization (11%).
