Decreased Serum Epinephrine in Children With Positive Skin Prick Test.
- Author:
Seok Chan HONG
1
;
Jeffrey D SUH
;
Sochung CHUNG
;
Seung Hoon LEE
;
Ji Ho CHOI
;
Jeong In OH
;
In Tae KIM
;
Jin Kook KIM
;
Jae Hoon CHO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Allergic Rhinitis; Epinephrine; Child; Skin Tests
- MeSH: Allergens; Animals; Artemisia; Cats; Child*; Chromatography, Liquid; Diagnosis; Dogs; Dopamine; Epinephrine*; Humans; Norepinephrine; Parents; Pollen; Pyroglyphidae; Rhinitis; Skin Tests; Skin*
- From:Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology 2015;8(4):381-384
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between catecholamine levels and skin prick test results among children. METHODS: Two hundred eight first grade children from one elementary school were invited to participate in this study. Skin prick test (SPT) for six allergens (2 house dust mites, cat, dog, mugwort, and pollen mixture) was performed, and patient demographic information was recorded. The parents were surveyed using questionnaires about rhinitis-related symptoms. Finally, venous blood sampling was done to measure catecholamine levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Out of 208 children, 174 (106 boys and 68 girls) enrolled in this study. Ninety-six of the children (55%) had negative SPT (nonsensitization group), while 78 (45%) had a positive SPT to at least one of six allergens (sensitization group). The diagnosis of chronic rhinitis was more prevalent in the sensitization group (35.9%) than nonsensitization group (26.0%), however the finding was not significant (P=0.186). Epinephrine levels were decreased between the sensitization group compared to the nonsensitization group (P=0.004). There was no difference in norepinephrine and dopamine levels (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Epinephrine levels are lower in children with positive SPT compared to controls, however, the level of the catecholamine was not associated with the presence or absence of rhinitis symptoms.
