Abstract: Methods: Skin prick tests to HDM (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, Euroglyphus maynei) and SM (Lepidoglyphus destructor, Glycyphagus domesticus, Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Acarus siro) were performed in four different cities located in two climatic areas with high exposition to mites (Atlantic: Lugo, Santander; Mediterranean: Barcelona, Cartagena). 420 individuals were included in the study. 197 serum samples from patients sensitized to SM were collected and the specific IgE determined.
Results: Percentages of patients sensitised to mites were: Lugo 100%, Santander 68%; Cartagena 100%; Barcelona 56%. Most mite-sensitised patients residing in Atlantic localities were sensitised to HDM and SM (Lugo 100%; Santander 98%), whereas a significant lower number of patients from Mediterranean were sensitised to both type of mites (Cartagena 70%, Barcelona 78%). The solely sensitisation to SM was very low in all cities (0-3%). The SM species with highest percentage of sensitisation and largest wheal sizes was L. destructor, although they always were lower than those obtained with HDM.
Specific IgE levels were statistically significant higher in Lugo (Atlantic) than in the other cities. Specific IgE to HDM were significant higher than those observed to SM, except for L. destructor in Lugo.
Conclusions: The HDM are the main sensitising species in Spain, being sensitisation to SM partially related with exposition to these species.
