Characteristic and clinical relevance of atopic dermatitis patients with positive skin prick test to house dust mites: An Indonesian retrospective study

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and clinical relevance of HDM sensitization among AD patients in Surabaya, Indonesia. Methods This study examined 50 AD patients who had had skin prick tests (SPT) for food (chicken, shrimp, and cow's milk) and inhalant (HDM) allergens at the Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Clinic of Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital in Surabaya, Indonesia through 2016-2020. Subjects with positive and negative SPT findings for HDM were separated into 2 groups. Results Subjects were dominated by female (74%) and 72% of the patients had positive HDM SPT result. The data of atopic history (including allergic rhinitis and AD), precipitating factor (including food and HDM allergy), positive result to shrimp and cow's milk SPT, chronically relapsing dermatitis, immediate skin test reactivity, and raised serum IgE, were significantly different between groups of AD patients with positive and negative HDM SPT. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of AD signs and symptoms. The clinical relevance of the HDM allergy history based on anamnesis and the HDM SPT findings was 60.0%. Conclusion Atopic dermatitis due to HDM is prevalent in Surabaya. There were various characteristics linked to AD patients who had a positive HDM SPT. Clinical relevance revealed that allergen recognition remains challenging.