부산대학교 도서관

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1067/mai.2001.115245 Byline: Jose E. Gereda, Mary D. Klinnert, Marcie R. Price, Donald Y.M. Leung, Andrew H. Liu Keywords: Allergy; asthma; prevention; infants; endotoxin; house dust; allergen; animal; cat; dog; air conditioning Abbreviations: ETS:, Environmental tobacco smoke; EU:, Endotoxin unit; HD:, House dust Abstract: Background: Household endotoxin exposure in allergy and asthma has been gaining attention for its dual potential to exacerbate these conditions in individuals with established disease and to abrogate atopy before disease onset. Objective: We sought to better understand the home environmental and lifestyle factors influencing house dust endotoxin levels. Methods: From the homes of 86 infants with wheeze in metropolitan Denver, Colorado, house dust endotoxin (detected with a standardized Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay) and common indoor allergen (Fel d 1, Can f 1, Der p 1, Der f 1, and Bla g 1) contents were quantified. Comprehensive home environment and lifestyle questionnaires were completed during home visits by trained study staff and parents. Results: House dust endotoxin levels were associated with only 2 home environmental features: animals in the home and the presence of central air conditioning. The strongest positive associations were found with animals in the home. Interestingly, the homes without cats or other animals revealed a negative correlation between house dust Fel d 1 and endotoxin (P = .03). Central air conditioning, especially during months of typical use, was associated with lower house dust endotoxin levels. No significant associations between house dust endotoxin levels and home dampness, number of household inhabitants or young children, cleaning frequency, or presence of tobacco smokers in the home were found. Conclusions: Indoor endotoxin exposure can be increased by the presence of animals in the home and decreased with central air conditioning. In some homes without animals, where allergen exposure adequate for sensitization still occurs, there are lower levels of house dust endotoxin. Therefore in homes without animals, factors that influence allergen and endotoxin levels in house dust probably differ. Households with detectable allergen levels but low endotoxin levels may provide a predisposing environment for animal allergen sensitization. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:790-6.) Author Affiliation: Denver, Colo From.sup.athe Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and.sup.bthe Division of Pediatric Behavioral Health, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver Article History: Received 22 September 2000; Revised 19 February 2001; Accepted 20 February 2001 Article Note: (footnote) [star] Supported by National Institutes of Health grants R18AI41137, HL-36577, and M01-RR00051; the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; The Chest Foundation; and National Jewish Medical and Research Center., [star][star] Reprint requests: Andrew Liu, MD, Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson St (K1023), Denver, CO 80206.