D3.79 - Patterns of House Dust Mite Hypersensitivity in Eastern Ukraine

House dust mite (HDM) sensitization ranks among the most common allergen hypersensitivity worldwide, affecting approximately 1–2% of the global population, with substantial regional variation. The efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy may be improved through more precise patient selection based on molecular sensitization profiles.

Study population: adult patients with any history of allergic diseases living in Dnipro region (Ukraine).

Methods: medical history, anthropometry, clinical examination, total serum IgE and specific IgE (sIgE) to HDM allergen extracts and allergen molecules by multiplex assay were evaluated in all patients.

A total of 470 adults from Dnipro (196 men, 36,25 +11.12 yo) were included in the study. Total serum IgE was 200.00 [42.00-731.5.00] kUL and vary from 3.00 to 5346 kUL. Despite the history of allergy, 422 patients (42.50 %)  had total serum IgE less than 100 kUL. The frequency of sIgE sensitization to HDM allergen extracts and molecular components was as follows: Dermatophagoides farinae: Der f (extract) – 4.89%;  Der f 1 – 11.49%; Der f 2 – 14.47%; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus: Der p (extract) – 12.55%; Der p 1 – 12.34%; Der p 2 – 14.26%; Der p 5 – 8.30%; Der p 7 – 3.40%; Der p 10 – 3.83%; Der p 11 – 1.70%; Der p 23 – 7.66%. Sensitization to other mite species was less frequent and included: Acarus siro (Aca s) – 1.06%; Blomia tropicalis (Blo t) – 1.91%; Glycyphagus domesticus (Gly d) – 5.11%; Gly d 2 – 1.70%;  Lepidoglyphus destructor (Lep d) – 1.06%; Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tyr p) – 1.06%.

In adults from the Dnipro region, sensitization to Dermatophagoides species was the most frequent, particularly to molecular components Der f 2 (14.47%) and Der p 2 (14.26%). Notably, the frequency of sensitization to whole extracts (Der f 4.89%, Der p 12.55%) was lower than to individual major allergen molecules, highlighting that extract-based testing may underestimate true molecular sensitization patterns. These findings underscore the importance of molecular diagnostics in guiding allergen-specific immunotherapy, enabling more precise identification of relevant sensitizations and thereby improving patient selection and treatment efficacy.