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.