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Is There a Threshold Concentration of Cat Allergen Exposure on Respiratory Symptoms in Adults?
- Source :
- PLoS ONE 10:e0127457 (2015), PLoS ONE, Vol 10, Iss 6, p e0127457 (2015), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 2015.
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cat allergen concentrations higher than 8 μg/g in settled house dust, have been suggested to provoke exacerbation of allergic respiratory symptoms. However, whether the 8μg/g of indoor cat allergen concentration is indeed the minimal exposure required for triggering the asthma related respiratory symptoms or the development of sensitization has not yet been confirmed. We studied the associations between domestic cat allergen concentrations and allergic symptoms in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II, with the aim of confirming this suggested threshold. METHODS: Cat allergen concentrations were measured in the mattress dust of 3003 participants from 22 study centres. Levels of specific immunoglobulin E to cat allergens were measured in serum samples using an immunoassay. Information on allergic symptoms, medication use, home environment and smoking was obtained from a face-to-face interview. RESULTS: Domestic cat allergen concentrations were not associated with allergic/ asthmatic symptoms in the entire study population, nor in the subset sensitized to cat allergen. We also found no association among individuals exposed to concentrations higher than 8 μg/g. However, exposure to medium cat allergen concentrations (0.24-0.63 μg/g) was positively associated with reported asthmatic respiratory symptoms in subjects who have experienced allergic symptoms when near animals. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed 8 μg/g threshold of cat allergen concentrations for the exacerbation of allergic/ respiratory symptoms was not confirmed in a general European adult population. Potential biases attributable to avoidance behaviours and an imprecise exposure assessment cannot be excluded.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Allergy
medicine.medical_specialty
Exacerbation
Respiratory Medicine and Allergy
Science
Immunoglobulin E
600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften::610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin
Air Pollution
Internal medicine
Hypersensitivity
medicine
Animals
Humans
Indoor
Respiratory system
Sensitization
Lungmedicin och allergi
Asthma
Multidisciplinary
biology
business.industry
Dust
Air Pollution, Indoor
Allergens
Environmental Exposure
Female
Middle Aged
Cats
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Environmental exposure
medicine.disease
respiratory tract diseases
Pulmonology
medicine.anatomical_structure
Immunology
biology.protein
Medicine
business
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE 10:e0127457 (2015), PLoS ONE, Vol 10, Iss 6, p e0127457 (2015), PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....02ade72e6fd991798dff30be21c55ef1
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.17169/refubium-21235