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Published: March 16, 2008
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
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PHILADELPHIA, March 16 -- Mouse allergen at levels that
may contribute to asthma is present in more than a third of American homes,
researchers said here.
In households with concentration of mouse allergen greater than 1.6 mcg per
gram of dust, rates of asthma in at least one household member were nearly 50%
greater than in homes with lower mouse allergen levels, according to Päivi M.
Salo, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Environmental Health Science in
Research Triangle Park, N.C., and colleagues.
In 35% of homes, levels exceeded 1.6 mcg/g of dust. That level has been found
in earlier research to be associated with increased rates of mouse allergen
sensitization.
Action Points
· Explain to interested patients that the study found a
significant association between high levels of mouse allergens in households
and current asthma among household members.
· Explain that people with allergies should take steps to get
rid of mice in their homes.
· Point out that the results were presented orally at a
conference and should be considered preliminary until they are published in a
peer-reviewed journal.
"It is
advisable to get rid of mice in homes where allergic and asthmatic individuals
reside," Dr. Salo said at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology meeting here.
The findings
were part of an NIEHS-funded study of allergens and lead in 831 housing units
scattered across the United States. The sample was intended to be
representative of American homes and included a variety of home types, ages,
and neighborhoods.
Dr. Salo said
the survey found detectable levels of mouse allergen (primarily urine residue)
in more than 82% of homes.
Dr. Salo
reported that 8.9% of homes with mouse allergen levels above 1.6 mcg/g had a
currently asthmatic household member, whereas current asthma prevalence in
homes with mouse allergen levels at or below the threshold was 6.0% (
P=0.05).
After
adjusting for age, gender, race, smoking status, and season, the odds ratio for
current asthma in homes with high levels of mouse allergen was 1.40 (95% CI
0.94 to 2.10).
The
correlation was stronger in households where members were known to have
allergies. There, the adjusted odds ratio for current asthma in homes with high
mouse allergen levels was 1.93 (95% CI 1.14 to 3.27) while the effect was not
seen in non-atopics (adjusted OR= 0.69, 95% CI: 0.33-1.44).
Rates of
doctor-diagnosed asthma without recent symptoms, allergies, and hay fever did
not differ significantly by mouse allergen level, nor did rates of wheezing.
Dr. Salo said
apartments in high-rise buildings, mobile homes, older housing, and buildings
in low-income neighborhoods were more likely than other homes to have high
levels of mouse allergen.
She added that
cats did not appear to be a solution to the mouse allergen problem. Findings
from the NIEHS survey indicated that the presence of cats in households had
little impact on levels of mouse allergens.
The data also
indicated that, in households with atopic family members, the presence of the
Fel D cat allergen along with high levels of mouse allergens doubled the risk
of current asthma (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.24).
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAAAIMeeting/dh/8767
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