Atopy patch testing with airborne allergens.

INTRODUCTION Atopy patch tests (APT) represent a relatively new diagnostic method for identifying the role of airborne allergens in atopic dermatitis flares. This study evaluates the role of airborne allergens in atopic dermatitis flares in a group of adult patients with atopic dermatitis. The primary goal was to detect the frequency of sensitization to these allergens in a group of patients with atopic dermatitis by APT. The secondary goal was to compare the results of APT with specific IgE against the same airborne allergens with regard to sensitivity and specificity. METHODS Between November 2004 and October 2011, a cohort of 125 patients (37 males and 88 females) with atopic dermatitis was investigated using APT at the 1st Department of Dermatovenereology of the St. Anne Faculty in Brno, Czech Republic. RESULTS In 36 (28.8%) patients, the APT were positive, and in 89 (71.2%) negative. The most common allergens were house dust mite allergens (12.8%), followed by grass and plant pollen (10.4%) and dog allergens (8%). CONCLUSION The results indicate that APT is a helpful tool for identifying airborne allergens as triggering factors of atopic dermatitis.