[Sensitization to mites and occupational allergens in bakery workers of la habana, cuba]. / Sensibilización a ácaros y alergenos ocupacionales en trabajadores de una panadería de La Habana, Cuba.

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to allergens at the workplace is an essential factor for the development of occupational respiratory diseases. OBJETIVE: To determine the frequency of sensitization to mites and other occupational allergens in bakery workers, by skin prick test (PCP). METHODS: In this unpaired case-control study were included 17 workers, mean age 34 years (range 18-55), and the control group 14 patients, mean age 32 years (range 22-47), both predominantly male 76 % and 85 % respectively. Each subject had a history and physical examination, and underwent skin testing with allergenic extracts. RESULTS: All investigated subjects showed at least a positive response to two allergens in the SPT. The highest percentage of sensitization in bakers corresponded to Acarus siro and Dermatophagoides Siboney with 82.35% each, followed by Blomia tropicalis, D. farinae, Lepydoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescientae. The lowest positivity corresponded to D. pteronyssinus (47%), different to that found in the control group where this was the predominant mite. The highest wheal diameter values were for the storage mites A. siro and T. putrescientae in the study group and D. farinae and B. tropicalis in the control group. Sensitization was found to wheat flour in 82 % of these bakers. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high sensitization to house dust mites, and particularly to the storage mites and as to allergens from wheat flour to bakers, this represents a risk factor to be considered for occupational safety.

[Relative potency of allergenic extracts from mites in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis]. / Potencia relativa de extractos alergénicos de ácaros en pacientes con asma y rinitis alérgicas.

BACKGROUND: Skin tests for specific diagnosis of allergies require high quality extracts, which can be measured by the determination of allergenic potency, utilizing different concentrations of extracts from a manufacturer. OBJETIVE: To compare allergenic mite extracts manufactured by laboratories in Spain, Argentina, and Cuba by skin prick test response. METHODS: A cutaneous puncture was performed on 56 patients aged 2 to 15 years with asthma and allergic rhinitis with extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), Dermatophagoides siboney (Ds) and Blomia tropicalis (Bt) produced by DIATER (Argentina), ALK- AbellÛ (Spain) and BIOCEN (Cuba). RESULTS: In 84.6% of patients there was an association of symptoms with seasonal changes and house dust exposure. The diameter of wheals from ALK allergen extract was larger than extracts from other sources, but without any significant difference (p > 0.05). The ratio between wheals and allergen concentration with BIOCEN products showed lineal dependence between the diameter averages and the concentration logarithm, ranging from 4000 to 100 000 UB/mL. The skin prick tests with diameters =3mm showed a larger proportion of Dp and Df from ALK in comparison to BIOCEN and DIATER. CONCLUSIONS: We found that dust mite extracts produced and standardized by DIATER, ALK-Abello and BIOCEN were similar with respect to allergenic potency.

[Skin prick tests with standardized extracts of mites of different precedence in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis]. / Pruebas cutáneas de punción con extractos estandarizados de ácaros de diferente procedencia en pacientes con asma y rinitis alérgica.

BACKGROUND: House dust mites are important airborne allergens worldwide, particularly in the tropical environment. OBJECTIVE: To assess sensitization of allergic patients to different mite species in the Cuban city of Camaguey; as well as to compare standardized allergen extracts from different sources by skin prick tests. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Skin prick tests were performed in 60 patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and in 60 non-allergic volunteers, ranging from 2 to 76 years old. In both groups, Diater-Prick lancets were used, together with Valergen extracts (Biocen, Cuba) at 20,000 BU/mL and Diater extracts (Argentina) at 50,000 UBE/PNU/mL. RESULTS: The highest values of sensitization prevalence using Diater extracts were seen in Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), and Blomia tropicalis (Bt) in allergic patients and in non-allergic controls. Diagnostic sensitivity values were: Dp, 79; Df, 84; Bt, 84 and B. kulagini, 83%. Specificity varied from 72 to 85%. On the other hand, with Biocen extracts, the highest positivity was noted in Dp and D. siboney (Ds). Sensitivity values were 78% (Dp); 78% (Ds) and 82% (BT). Specificity values ranged from 79 to 82%. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized allergen extracts from the assessed laboratories induced similar values of sensitivity and specificity.