岡野 光博

Fifteen patients with Japanese cedar pollenosis were examined for lower airway function. Flow-volume patterns obtained from flow-volume and volume-time curves during the pollen season (March) and outside of the pollen season (June) were evaluated. In a previous report we classified maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves in five patterns from A to E. In the present study, the patterns did not vary between the two periods except in one patient. Eleven patients out of 15 showed type E patterns, in which the flow-volume curve was concave along its entire course. In most of the patients with severe or moderate symptoms of allergic rhinitis only during the pollen season, the curve shifted to the right, but the parameters of the curves did not increase significantly outside of season. These findings suggest that patients with Japanese cedar pollenosis suffer from continuous latent peripheral airway obstruction. Extremely slight changes in the flow rate were detected by comparing the curves obtained during the two periods.

To determine the allergens of mite allergic rhinitis, we studied 31 patients with mite allergic rhinitis by skin tests and nasal provocation tests (15 for skin and 16 for nasal tests) using 6 fractions of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) extract differing in molecular weights (15, 25, 32, 53, 95 and 190 kDMW). In skin testing, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 25, 32, 95 and 190 kDMW, among which the most patients showed positive reactions to the fractions of 15 and 25 kDMW. Significant differences were found in patients' positive reactivity among each fraction and between low (15 and 25 kD) and high (95 and 190 kD) molecular weight fractions as well. In nasal provocation tests, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 32, 53 and 95 kDMW, especially to the fractions of 15 and 95 kDMW. Furthermore, the insidence of positive reactions to the 15 kDMW fraction was significantly higher than that to any other fraction in the skin tests (P < 0.05). From these results, the low molecular weight fraction, 15 kDMW, is considered to be the main allergen of this mite and the high molecular weight fractions, 95 and 190 kDMW, may also be considered to be allergens of this mite.

To determine the allergens of mite allergic rhinitis, we studied 31 patients with mite allergic rhinitis by skin tests and nasal provocation tests (15 for skin and 16 for nasal tests) using 6 fractions of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) extract differing in molecular weights (15, 25, 32, 53, 95 and 190 kDMW). In skin testing, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 25, 32, 95 and 190 kDMW, among which the most patients showed positive reactions to the fractions of 15 and 25 kDMW. Significant differences were found in patients' positive reactivity among each fraction and between low (15 and 25 kD) and high (95 and 190 kD) molecular weight fractions as well. In nasal provocation tests, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 32, 53 and 95 kDMW, especially to the fractions of 15 and 95 kDMW. Furthermore, the insidence of positive reactions to the 15 kDMW fraction was significantly higher than that to any other fraction in the skin tests (P < 0.05). From these results, the low molecular weight fraction, 15 kDMW, is considered to be the main allergen of this mite and the high molecular weight fractions, 95 and 190 kDMW, may also be considered to be allergens of this mite.