Aeroallergen Sensitization in Adults with Allergic Rhinitis: A Single Center Experience in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Aeroallergen sensitization patterns vary by region, influenced by environmental factors such as climate and vegetation. This study aimed to determine the sensitization profile and identify the most common aeroallergens in adult patients presenting with a preliminary diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) at a tertiary care center in Southeastern Türkiye. Methods: Adult patients (≥18 years) who presented to our immunology-allergy clinic with suspected AR and underwent skin prick testing (SPT) for inhalant allergens between February 2024-February 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical data—including total IgE levels, eosinophil counts, and SPT results—were retrieved from medical records. Results: A total of 658 patients were included; median age was 31 years, and 65% were female. A family history of atopy was present in 28.3%, and 36.8% had at least one allergic comorbidity, most commonly asthma (26%). Based on symptom severity, 51.3% had mild AR and 48.7% had moderate-to-severe AR. Sensitization to inhalant allergens was identified in 77.4% of patients. The most common aeroallergens were grass pollen mix (40.3%), Dermatophagoides farinae (37.7%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (33.3%), meadow-grass pollen mix (27.8%), and cockroach (24.2%). Sensitization to grass pollen mix, weed pollen mix, olive tree pollens, and cockroach was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe AR. Asthma was more prevalent in this group and was strongly linked to sensitization to house dust mites, and dog epithelium (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Sensitization to pollens and indoor allergens is associated with increased AR severity and asthma. Identifying regional sensitization profiles may support more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.

Keywords

• Aeroallergen
• allergic rhinitis
• asthma
• skin prick test
• sensitization

Alerjik Rinitli Yetişkinlerde Aeroalerjen Duyarlılığı: Üçüncü Basamak bir Hastanede tek merkez deneyimi

Abstract

Amaç: Aeroalerjen duyarlılık paternleri, iklim ve bitki örtüsü gibi çevresel faktörlerden etkilenerek bölgelere göre değişiklik gösterir. Bu çalışma, Güneydoğu Türkiye'deki bir üçüncü basamak sağlık merkezine alerjik rinit (AR) ön tanısıyla başvuran yetişkin hastalarda duyarlılık profilini belirlemeyi ve en sık görülen aeroalerjenleri tespit etmeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntemler: Şubat 2024-Şubat 2025 arasında immunoloji-alerji polikliniğine AR şüphesiyle başvuran ve inhalan alerjenlere yönelik deri prik testi (SPT) yapılan 18 yaş ve üzeri yetişkin hastalar retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir. Hastaların demografik ve klinik verileri—toplam IgE seviyeleri, eozinofil sayıları ve SPT sonuçları dahil—tıbbi kayıtlardan alınmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmamıza toplam 658 hasta dahil edildi. Hastaların yaş ortancası 31 yıl olup, %65'i kadındı. Hastaların %28,3'ünde ailede atopi öyküsü bulunurken, %36,8'inde en az bir alerjik komorbidite vardı; bunların başında astım (%26) gelmekteydi. Semptom şiddetine göre, hastaların %51,3'ünde hafif AR, %48,7'sinde ise orta-şiddetli AR görüldü. Hastaların %77,4'ünde inhalan alerjenlere karşı duyarlılık tespit edildi. En sık görülen aeroalerjenler sırasıyla: Çayır poleni karışımı (%40,3), Dermatophagoides farinae (%37,7), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (%33.3), Çayır otu poleni karışımı (%27,8), Hamam böceği (%24,2) olarak belirlendi. Çayır poleni karışımı, yabani ot poleni karışımı, zeytin ağacı polenleri ve hamam böceğine karşı duyarlılık, orta-şiddetli AR ile anlamlı derecede ilişkiliydi. Astım, bu grupta daha yaygındı ve ev tozu akarları ile köpek epiteline karşı duyarlılıkla güçlü bir bağlantı gösterdi (p<0.05). Sonuç: Güneydoğu Türkiye'deki alerjik rinit hastalarının alerjen duyarlılık profili hakkında önemli bilgiler sunmaktadır. Bölgenin iklimi ve bitki örtüsü göz önüne alındığında, bu veriler klinik uygulamalarda ve halk sağlığı stratejilerinde değerli bir rehber olabilir.

Keywords

• Aeroalerjen
• alerjik rinit
• astım
• deri prik testi
• duyarlılık

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