Sensitization patterns of cow's milk and major components in young children with atopic dermatitis
10.5415/apallergy.2013.3.3.179
- Author:
Jeong Min LEE
1
;
Jong Seo YOON
;
Se Ah JEON
;
Soo Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 443-749, Korea. jsjs87@ajou.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Atopic dermatitis;
Children;
Cow's milk;
Casein
- MeSH:
Allergens;
Antibodies;
Caseins;
Child;
Dermatitis, Atopic;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin E;
Immunoglobulins;
Milk;
Telephone
- From:
Asia Pacific Allergy
2013;3(3):179-185
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Cow's milk (CM) is one of the most common food allergens in children with atopic dermatitis (AD), and the component-specific immunoglobulin E (component-IgE) measurement has recently become available. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the sensitization patterns to CM and 3 major components and their clinical values in young Korean children with AD. METHODS: Cow's milk-specific IgE (CM-IgE), α-lactalbumin-specific IgE (ALA-IgE), β-lactoglobulin-specific IgE (BLG-IgE), and casein-specific IgE (Cas-IgE) levels from the sera of patients with AD were measured using the UniCAP™ system (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sweden) and collected from January 2004 to December 2010. Patients ≥ 4 years of age were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 950 patients diagnosed with AD were ultimately enrolled in the study. Among them, 471 (49.6%) patients were sensitized to CM (CM-IgE[+], > 0.35 kU/L). Sensitization to casein (n = 349, 74.1%) was most common, followed by ALA (n = 283, 60.1%), and BLG (n = 245, 52.5%). Meanwhile, 95 patients had at least 2 follow-up tests. Eighty (84.2%) of these patients tested positive to CM, and the casein sensitization rate was the highest (n = 65, 81.3%). In addition, 479 (50.4%) patients were not sensitized to CM (CM-IgE[-], ≤ 0.35 kU/L) but 35 (7.3%) patients were sensitized to at least one component. Among them, a telephone survey was accessible in 21 cases. A total of 8 (38.1%) patients still suffered from adverse reactions after consuming milk and/or dairy foods. CONCLUSION: Casein was the most commonly and persistently sensitized component in CM-IgE(+) children with AD. Measuring CM component IgE antibodies, especially Cas-IgE, is helpful for evaluating problematic allergens in young children with AD.
