Reducing domestic exposure to dust mite allergen reduces bronchial hyperreactivity in sensitive children with astham

Ehnert, B.; Lau-Schadendort, Susanne; Weber, Anne; Büttner, Petra; Schou, C.; Wahn, Ulrich

doi:10.1016/s0091-6749(06)80024-2

Cited by 330 publications

(196 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

179

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results demonstrate that allergenimpermeable covers in combination with weekly laundering of nonencased bedding materials can result in reductions in bed HDM allergens, in accordance with results of previous tests of these methods (5,9,15,(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). The intervention that was implemented as part of this study resulted in bedding-dust HDM allergen concentrations < 10 µg/g, an exposure level threshold linked to asthma development (1) and acute asthma attacks (31).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…However, the results from a recent prospective study of German children with/without a family history of atopy (7) have led some investigators to question the association between exposure to HDM allergen and the subsequent development of asthma. A number of secondary asthma prevention studies indicate that HDM allergen avoidance measures are effective at reducing HDM allergen exposure, asthma symptoms, and bronchial hyperreactivity in asthmatic children (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Despite the reputed respiratory health benefits of indoor allergen avoidance, particularly for asthma patients (13), inexpensive, practical, and effective methods for home allergen control remain elusive (14,15).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of physical interventions on house dust mite allergen levels in carpet, bed, and upholstery dust in low-income, urban homes.

Vojta

Randels

Stout

et al. 2001

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

House dust mite allergen exposure is a postulated risk factor for allergic sensitization, asthma development, and asthma morbidity; however, practical and effective methods to mitigate these allergens from low-income, urban home environments remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of physical interventions to mitigate house dust mite allergens in this setting. Homes with high levels of house dust mite allergen (Der f 1 + Der p 1 > or = 10 microg/g dust by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in the bed, bedroom carpet, and/or upholstered furniture were enrolled in the study. Carpets and upholstered furniture were subjected to a single treatment of either dry steam cleaning plus vacuuming (carpet only) or intensive vacuuming alone. Bed interventions consisted of complete encasement of the mattress, box spring, and pillows plus either weekly professional or in-home laundering of nonencased bedding. Dust samples were collected at baseline and again at 3 days (carpet and upholstery only) and 2, 4, and 8 weeks posttreatment. We compared pretreatment mean allergen concentrations and loads to posttreatment values and performed between-group analyses after adjusting for differences in the pretreatment means. Both dry steam cleaning plus vacuuming and vacuuming alone resulted in a significant reduction in carpet house dust mite allergen concentration and load (p < 0.05). Levels approached pretreatment values by 4 weeks posttreatment in the intensive vacuuming group, whereas steam cleaning plus vacuuming effected a decrease that persisted for up to 8 weeks. Significant decreases in bed house dust mite allergen concentration and load were obtained in response to encasement and either professional or in-home laundering (p < 0.001). Between-group analysis revealed significantly less postintervention house dust mite allergen load in professionally laundered compared to home-laundered beds (p < 0.05). Intensive vacuuming and dry steam cleaning both caused a significant reduction in allergen concentration and load in upholstered furniture samples (p < 0.005). Based on these data, we conclude that physical interventions offer practical, effective means of reducing house dust mite allergen levels in low-income, urban home environments.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of physical interventions on house dust mite allergen levels in carpet, bed, and upholstery dust in low-income, urban homes.

Vojta

Randels

Stout

et al. 2001

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The most pronounced differences were in the relative risks for severe wheeze with shortness of breath (relative risk 0. 44 [58]. At age 3 years, children in the active group still had less wheeze and a lower airway resistance; however, the sensitization rate to mite was higher.…”

Section: Implications For Intervention Studiesmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Initially, trials on HDM allergen avoidance had shown to be successful as tertiary prevention in the treatment of mite allergic asthmatic patients [44,45]. Studies performed later provided conflicting data and recent systematic reviews concluded that this approach is not useful in secondary and tertiary prevention of allergic asthma and rhinitis in adults [46,47], in the prevention of atopic eczema [48], and of little help in children with asthma [47].…”

Section: Implications For Intervention Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary prevention of allergy: avoiding risk or providing protection?

Hamelmann

Beyer

Grüber

et al. 2007

Clin Experimental Allergy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryPrimary prevention strategies of allergy so far have been aimed to fight allergy causes, by avoiding risk factors and inhibiting their mechanisms of action. The results of trials testing food or airborne allergen avoidance as a prevention strategy were, however, rather disappointing. A reverse approach for primary prevention of allergies aims to facilitate exposure to protecting factors which promote the induction of immunologic tolerance against innocuous antigens. These factors are associated with farming environment and a 'traditional lifestyle', but identification of these factors is quite difficult. Major candidates include foodborne microbes, helminths or their components, which are able to stimulate mucosal immunity, particularly in the gut. Similarly, new preventive and therapeutic strategies are being tested to induce specific food-allergen oral tolerance through the ingestion of progressively increasing doses of the offending food. This shifting of allergy prevention research from avoidance to tolerance induction will hopefully allow us to reverse the epidemic trend of allergy diseases.

show abstract

“…Studies of asthmatic patients with house dust mite allergy have demonstrated the importance of house dust mite avoidance measures in the control of asthma [8][9][10][11]. MURRAY and FERGUSON [8] showed that a "sterile" bedroom environment was associated with marked improvement in children with asthma due to house dust mite allergy.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%