Chen, C.M. ; Thiering, E. ; Zock, J.P.* ; Villani, S.* ; Olivieri, M.* ; Modig, L.* ; Jarvis, D.* ; Norbäck, D.* ; Verlato, G.* ; Heinrich, J.
     
 
    
        
Is there a threshold concentration of cat allergen exposure on respiratory symptoms in adults?
    
    
        
    
    
        
        PLoS ONE 10:e0127457 (2015)
    
    
    
		
		
			
				BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cat allergen concentrations higher than 8 μg/g in settled house dust, have been suggested to provoke exacerbation of allergic respiratory symptoms. However, whether the 8μg/g of indoor cat allergen concentration is indeed the minimal exposure required for triggering the asthma related respiratory symptoms or the development of sensitization has not yet been confirmed. We studied the associations between domestic cat allergen concentrations and allergic symptoms in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II, with the aim of confirming this suggested threshold. METHODS: Cat allergen concentrations were measured in the mattress dust of 3003 participants from 22 study centres. Levels of specific immunoglobulin E to cat allergens were measured in serum samples using an immunoassay. Information on allergic symptoms, medication use, home environment and smoking was obtained from a face-to-face interview. RESULTS: Domestic cat allergen concentrations were not associated with allergic/ asthmatic symptoms in the entire study population, nor in the subset sensitized to cat allergen. We also found no association among individuals exposed to concentrations higher than 8 μg/g. However, exposure to medium cat allergen concentrations (0.24-0.63 μg/g) was positively associated with reported asthmatic respiratory symptoms in subjects who have experienced allergic symptoms when near animals. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed 8 μg/g threshold of cat allergen concentrations for the exacerbation of allergic/ respiratory symptoms was not confirmed in a general European adult population. Potential biases attributable to avoidance behaviours and an imprecise exposure assessment cannot be excluded.
			
			
				
			
		 
		
			
				
					
					Impact Factor
					Scopus SNIP
					Web of Science
Times Cited
					Scopus
Cited By
					
					Altmetric
					
				 
				
			 
		 
		
     
    
        Publikationstyp
        Artikel: Journalartikel
    
 
    
        Dokumenttyp
        Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
    
 
    
        Typ der Hochschulschrift
        
    
 
    
        Herausgeber
        
    
    
        Schlagwörter
        House-dust Mite; Health-survey; Asthma; Homes; Environment; Sensitization; Determinants; Childhood; Increases; Site
    
 
    
        Keywords plus
        
    
 
    
    
        Sprache
        englisch
    
 
    
        Veröffentlichungsjahr
        2015
    
 
    
        Prepublished im Jahr 
        
    
 
    
        HGF-Berichtsjahr
        2015
    
 
    
    
        ISSN (print) / ISBN
        1932-6203
    
 
    
        e-ISSN
        
    
 
    
        ISBN
        
    
 
    
        Bandtitel
        
    
 
    
        Konferenztitel
        
    
 
	
        Konferzenzdatum
        
    
     
	
        Konferenzort
        
    
 
	
        Konferenzband
        
    
 
     
		
    
        Quellenangaben
        
	    Band: 10,  
	    Heft: 6,  
	    Seiten: ,  
	    Artikelnummer: e0127457 
	    Supplement: ,  
	
    
 
  
        
            Reihe
            
        
 
        
            Verlag
            Public Library of Science (PLoS)
        
 
        
            Verlagsort
            Lawrence, Kan.
        
 
	
        
            Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
            0000-00-00
        
 
        
            Betreuer
            
        
 
        
            Gutachter
            
        
 
        
            Prüfer
            
        
 
        
            Topic
            
        
 
	
        
            Hochschule
            
        
 
        
            Hochschulort
            
        
 
        
            Fakultät
            
        
 
    
        
            Veröffentlichungsdatum
            0000-00-00
        
 
         
        
            Anmeldedatum
            0000-00-00
        
 
        
            Anmelder/Inhaber
            
        
 
        
            weitere Inhaber
            
        
 
        
            Anmeldeland
            
        
 
        
            Priorität
            
        
 
    
        Begutachtungsstatus
        Peer reviewed
    
 
    
        Institut(e)
        Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)
    
 
    
        POF Topic(s)
        30503 - Chronic Diseases of the Lung and Allergies
    
 
    
        Forschungsfeld(er)
        Genetics and Epidemiology
    
 
    
        PSP-Element(e)
        G-503900-001
    
 
    
        Förderungen
        
    
 
    
        Copyright
        
    
 	
    
    
    
    
    
        Erfassungsdatum
        2015-06-04