IgE cross-reactivity between house dust mite and shrimp

Background: House dust mite(HDM) is a common inhaled allergen.Clinical data indicates that some of the patients sensitized to HDM can also sensitized to shrimp, crab or cockroach.Tropomyosin is regarded to be responsible for cross-reactivity between HDM and other invertebrates. Object: The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of cross-reactivity between HDM and shrimp and analyse the IgE levels of tropomyosin in HDM-shrimp sensitized patients. Method: 1270 sera from allergy serum bank of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were all detected IgE to HDM and shrimp.The HDM-shrimp sensitized sera were detected IgE to Der p 10,and if the result was positive, IgE to Pen a 1 was detected. Result: 42.44%(539/1270) were HDM sensitized,22.99%(292/1270)were shrimp sensitized and 19.92%( 253/1270)had cross-reactivity.235 sera with cross-reactivity were detected IgE to Der p 10 and 14.04%(33/235)had positive results.The IgE level of Der p 10 is different between different IgE level groups of HDM and shrimp(P Conclusion: Tropomyosin is a major allergenic component accounting for the cross-reactivity between HDM and shrimp.Diagnostic tests containing tropomyosin(e.g. Der p 10 of HDM,Pen a 1 of shrimp)may help clinician identify the real allergen and improve the diagnostic selection of patients for immunotherapy with Der p 10 extracts.