A STUDY ON ALLERGENS PROFILE AND THE FEV1 SEVERITY IN ALLERGIC PATIENTS IN SERVICES HOSPITAL LAHORE

Objective: Bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis are concomitant states that are part of the inflammatory cascade. Allergens cause inflammation and start allergic gait. The pattern and frequency of allergenicity can cause changes in spirometry parameters. Aim: To identify the pattern of allergen sensitization in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR). To correlate the severity of FEV1 (forced expiratory volume at a time interval of 1 sec) in patients with allergy. To delineate the offending allergen geographically based on the coastal and the non-coastal region. Design: A retrospective study. Place and Duration: In the Pulmonology department of Services Hospital Lahore for one year duration from January 2019 to January 2020. Materials and methods: Skin cutaneous test (SPT) and spirometry data were collected along with demographic and clinical symptoms from patients who visited the pulmonary department. SPT was performed using suitably standard kits and procedures. Spirometry performed before and after bronchodilation according to ATS guidelines. Results: A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study, with almost equal gender distribution (49% for men and 51% for women), 58% used inhaled medication during SPT. Shortness of breath (77%), cough (68%) and sneezing (66%) were the main symptoms. SPT showed sensitivity mainly to aerosols, such as house dust mites (84%), followed by acacia (58%), and mesquite (58%). The mean FEV1 was 1.74 l in the study group. Conclusion: Aeroallergens cause greater degradation of FEV1 than food allergens. Key words: bronchial asthma, allergenicity, sterilit