Prevalence of IgE Reactivities by Rhinitis and Asthmatic Patients to Biological Airborne Particulate

The atmosphere contains many aeroallergens, many of which have been described to affect rhinitis and asthmatic patients; however, there are few studies describing to what airborne particles rhinitis and asthmatic patients may be reacting to. The purpose of this study was to examine the IgE reactivity of serum from rhinitis and asthmatic patients against air samples. Air samples were collected with pieces of thermal adhesive tape attached to a microscope slides placed in the Allergenco(MK3) spore trap to capture 24-hr samples, 10 minutes of air sampling and 110 minutes of relapse. 10- cm squares of Mixed Cellulose Ester (MCE) protein-binding membranes (PBM) were sealed with pieces of the tape containing the collected air sample. Sera from 26 rhinitis and asthmatic subjects were collected and their reactivities against air samples examined by the Halogen Immunoassay. The total airborne particles collected and the haloes of IgE reactivity were counted and the reactive particle described. Of the total particulate recognized, 47% were unidentified, 25% ascospores, 19% basidiospores, 7% fungal fragments, and 1% others. In addition, there was no correlation between amount of particulate and particles recognized. Allergnic rhinitis, asthmatic, and non-allergic rhinitis had a mean%haloes of 2.06%, 1.84%, and 0.86% respectively. We conclude that the reactivity of rhinitis and asthmatic patients to airborne particles is specific to the particle exposed, the allergic potential is important for recognition, and that fungal particles composed a significant amount of particles recognized.