BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aeroallergens induce exacerbation of chronic urticaria. Skin prick test is a suitable test for detection of immediate reaction. The aim of this study was to detect the incidence of positive skin prick test to aeroallergens in patients with chronic urticaria.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done on patients with chronic urticaria during three years. After taking history and physical examination of patients, laboratory tests including: CBC-diff, ESR, stool exam, thyroid test, CH50, C3, C4, IgE, ANA, simple urinary test, AST and ALT were done. We used aeroallergens including: Timothy, Bermuda, Maple, Nettle, Feather, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cockroach, Grass mixed, Ash, Alder, Russian Thistle, Pigweed, Dermatophagoides Farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus with negative and positive tests on the forearm. The result was evaluated.FINDINGS: From 78 cases with chronic urticaria, 23 (30%) were male and 55 (70%) were female. Their age was between 7 to 50 years old and the mean age was 30.43±11.27 years. Twelve (15%) patients had positive skin prick test to 9 allergens that 8 (10%) were male and 4 (5%) were female. Among positive skin prick tests, 9 of 25 cases were related to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) (36%) and 9 cases were related to Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) (36%). CONCLUSION: The results showed that mites are more common in chronic urticaria.

Introduction: Asthma, allergic rhinitis and urticaria are common diseases in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the aeroallergen by skin prick test in patients, in Mazandaran province, Sari (Iran). Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of skin prick test of aeroallergens in patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis or both and urticaria based on clinical and Para clinical criteria. Eight hundered and nine cases were referred to Tooba and Boo-Ali allergic centers in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences between December 2006 and July 2010. The aeroallergens were included; House dust mites (DF, DP), Coach Roach, Feather, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Pigweed, Nettle, Oak, Maple and others. Negative (normal saline) and positive controls (histamine) were applied for all patients.Results: Atotal of Three hundred and fifty out of 809 cases were males (43%) and 459 cases were Females (57%). The age range was between 5 and 50 years old, 42.5 percent (n= 340) of patients had ages between 10 and 20 years old. In asthma, allergic rhinitis or both and urticaria, the prick test DF 32%, DP 33%, Cockroach 22% and feather 9 were positive. Other allergens were positive between 0 and 10 percent, except candida which was 28% positive. Total IgE levels and Eosinophil count was increased in 54 and 35 percent of cases, respectively.Conclusion: Due to warm and humid weather in north of Iran (Sari), house dust mites are more common.

Background: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is the most common allergic disease, affecting 30% of population around the world. The disease is predominantly associated with exposure to some aeroallergens like cigarette smoking. Skin Prick Test (SPT) is a method of detecting immediate allergic reactions and is applied for controlling disease and therapeutic modality.Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on SPT results among male and female individuals with AR disease.Patients and Methods: A total of 478 patients with AR admitted to the 2 main hospitals of Zahedan City from 2005 to 2012, were recruited in this analytic-descriptive study. Categories of smokers and never smokers were used based on patient’s statements and their history of smoking. SPT was performed with panel of some allergens and results were recorded and analyzed statistically. Odds ratio and confidence interval method were calculated using univariate logistic regression.Results: The results of this study indicated that 41.4% of patients with allergic rhinitis was smoker with ages ranged from 15 to 70 years. The result of this study also showed that smoking has no effect on SPT results of pollen and weeds aeroallergens conducted on male and female AR patients. However, male were significantly more sensitive than female in terms of sensitivity to the aspergillus, cladosporium, house dust mite, grasses, wheat, cockroach, and feather allergens.Conclusions: Our findings did not support the effect of cigarette smoking on SPT reactivity to pollen and weeds aeroallergens. However, male were significantly more sensitive than female in terms of sensitivity to some allergens.

Hypersensitivity reactions to natural rubber latex have increased recently, especially among people with high exposure to latex allergens. Hypersensitivity reactions to latex are related to many conditions like occupational asthma. Our study was performed to determine the prevalence of hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex and potential food cross reactions in operation room personnel in Shiraz hospitals. In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, 580 operation room personnel filled out our questionnaire which included data about their personal history, symptoms of latex hypersensitivity, and other related allergies such as food hypersensitivity. An informed consent was obtained and skin prick tests were performed for natural rubber latex and potential food cross reactions (kiwi, banana, and potato). The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS and Chi-square test.Results: 104 (17.9%) of the operating room personnel showed positive latex skin tests. We revealed a significant correlation between those with positive skin tests to latex with atopia, urthicaria, and food hypersensitivity. The prevalence did not vary by sex, age, education, surgical and non-surgical gloves users, or history of contact dermatitis. Latex hypersensitivity is common among operation room personnel. Evaluation of symptoms and prediction of future diseases necessitate screening tests in individuals at risk.

Background: Skin test using a pure and sterile extract proper allergen substances is one of the most sensitive and important procedures for the diagnosis of environmental allergic agents. However, these extracts are expensive and always are not available. This study was conducted to compare the Iranian and French (Standard) extracts of chenopodium album by Prick skin test in Tehran Children Medical Center in 2002. Materials and Methods: This analytical double blind study was conducted on 100 volunteers (aged 20-58: 54 males , 46 females). Patients who had a severe disease, atopy or taking antihistamins or anticonvulsants were excluded from the study. All the patients, had positive histamine tests. Patients who showed an skin inflation more than 4 mm in diameter considered as positive control and patients who showed no reaction were considered as negative control. Three different dilutions of both extracts were tested in Prick procedure on ulnar area of both arms by a physician. Kind of reaction such as inflation and redness was observed and noted after 20 minutes. Inflation more than 3mm associated with redness around it was considered as a positive reaction. Results: In the study none of the subjects had positive reaction in 100-fold dilution of extracts. In 10-fold dilutions 4 positive reactions (diameter 3-6 mm), and 6 positive reactions (diameter 3-5 mm) with the standard and Iranian extracts were observed respectively. On the other hand, 17 positive reactions (3-10 mm) and 22 positive reactions (3-10 mm) with the Standard and Iranian undiluted extracts were observed respectively. The specificity and sensitivity of the Iranian undiluted extract was 92.7% and 94% respectively and the correlation coefficient between the two extracts was 0.78. Conclusion: Due to the high The sensitivity and specificity of the Iranian extract and the degree of concordance between these two it can be suggested that the Iranian extract can be substituted for the standard extract. The use of undiluted Iranian extract is recommended.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the most common aeroallergens in patients with asthma and rhini- tis.Methods: The study enrolled 102 participants including 64 patients with respiratory allergies (among them 15 were clinically diagnosed as asthma patients, 41 with rhinitis, 8 were both) and 38 healthy controls. All of participants were subject of skin prick tests (SPT) with series of common allergenic extracts. Sera from all participants were tested for total IgE and eosinophil count. To measure airflow limitation and reversibility in asthma patients the pulmonary func- tion testing were carried out.Results: M/F ratio was 1: 1.6 in patients and 1: 0.7 in control group with mean age 28.88 year (SD 13.16; range 6 – 55 year) and 20.47 respectively (SD 1.16; range 19-23 year). The most common risk factors in these patients were total IgE more than 100 IU/ml, eosinophils above 4% and positive family history of atopy. Skin prick testing results showed prevalence rates for allergen groups in this manner: house dust mites 81.3 %, pollens 57.8 %, animal dandruff 12.5% and moulds 4.9%. Polysensitization was common in 51.6% of all sensitized patients being positive to more than one group of allergens.Conclusion: House dust mites are the main sensitizing allergens among our allergic patients as well as healthy con- trols. Next in importance, in all participants, are grasses. This pattern of prevalence was expected based on herbal geo- graphy, climate and specially lifestyle. It was also compatible with the results from studies carried out in places with the same habitat.