Is House Dust Immunotherapy Obsolete?

The traditional practice of immunotherapy includes house dust extract, a complex mixture of substances derived from many indoor and outdoor sources. We have questioned the use of house dust immunotherapy in patients who are sensitive to house dust as well as other indoor allergens, In a retrospective analysis, we studied 80 newly diagnosed atopic individuals to evaluate this association, Skin testing demonstrated that 90% of cockroach-sensitive patients were sensitive to house dust, 95% of dust mite-sensitive patients were sensitive to house dust, and 100% of mold-sensitive patients were sensitive to house dust, In fact, 100% of house dust-allergic patients were also allergic to mold, cockroach,or dust mite, There were no patients with only sensitivity to house dust, This study shows a high association between house dust and other indoor allergens, We feel house dust immunotherapy is unnecessary in the patient who is sensitive to house dust as well as other indoor allergens.