Treatment of Home Furnishings With Heat And Steam Reduces Mite Allergen Load

February 11, 2001

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WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Feb 02 - A single steam and heat treatment of

home furnishings reduces the house dust mite allergen load to below the risk

level for sensitization, according to a report in the January 1st issue of

the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Dr. Tim W. Higenbottam, from the University of Sheffield, UK, and colleagues

conducted a randomized, double-blind study of 30 asthmatic subjects

allocated into three groups. In homes of subjects in groups 1 and 2,

carpets, upholstery, mattresses and blankets were treated with heat, then

with steam, then with heat again.

In addition, homes of group 2 subjects had a ventilation system installed

above each subject's bedroom. Subjects in group 3 had their homes sham

treated.

The investigators determined levels of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus type 1

and 2 allergens (Der p 1 and 2) in household dust samples collected just

before and after the treatment and 6 and 12 months later. They measured

patients' bronchial hyperreactivity during a 4-week run-in period and at 3,

6, 9, and 12 months after the treatment.

The researchers note that full clinical data were available for 23 subjects.

" Active heat-steam treatment of homes caused a sustained reduction of Der p

1 and Der p 2, compared with no change in sham-treated group 3 homes, " they

say. They determined that the reductions were statistically significant.

Group 1 patients showed a fourfold reduction of bronchial hyperreactivity at

9 months, according to the team. Group 2 patients showed a similar reduction

throughout the posttreatment period. The researchers observed no change in

group 3 patients.

" These improvements were sustained for 12 months in the homes with bedroom

ventilation units, " Dr. Higenbottam and colleagues report.

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:55-60.

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