Evaluation of Skin Prick Test Results in Erzurum Region

INTRODUCTION: The skin prick test (SPT) is frequently used to detect allergen sensitivity in disorders such as atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma. The study evaluated allergen sensitivity with SPT in the Erzurum region.

METHODS: Patients who underwent SPT diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, angioedema, idiopathic generalized pruritus, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis were prospectively included in our study. House dust mites, animal hairs, fungi, pollen, and cockroach epithelium were applied as aeroallergens. Chicken, fish, mutton, beef, milk, egg yolk, egg white, banana, kiwi, strawberry, peach, tomato, peanut, hazelnut, walnut, cocoa, and cereals were applied as food allergens.
RESULTS: The study included 110 patients. At least one allergen was positive in 58 (52.7%) patients. At least one of the aeroallergens was positive in 53 patients (48.2%), and the most common aeroallergen was house dust mites (26.4%). In 17 patients (15.5%), at least one of the food allergens was positive, and the most common food allergen was banana (8.2%). There was no statistically significant difference in allergen positive between patients with atopic dermatitis (17/27), chronic urticaria (13/25), angioedema (3/7), pruritus (16/34), and allergic rhinitis (16/30). However, in patients with allergic conjunctivitis (2/11), the rate of allergen positivity was found to be significantly lower (p<0.01).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We detected the most common house dust sensitivity in patients with atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria, and pollen sensitivity in patients with pruritus and allergic rhinitis. Studies involving more patients with angioedema and allergic conjunctivitis are needed.