Adult ; Allergens ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Rhinitis ; blood ; Sinusitis ; blood ; diagnosis

BACKGROUNDA free running asthma screening test is usually used for screening exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. The total serum allergen IgE level can reveal the patient's atopy characteristics. Our study is to evaluate the diagnostic values of the combination of the two tests in asthmatic children and compare this new diagnostic method with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISSAC) questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test, which are popular diagnostic tool for pediatric asthma.

METHODSA total of 773 school children were recruited in this study. The children's asthma was diagnosed by means of a combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level. The new diagnostic method value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and compared with other diagnostic tools such as ISSAC questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test.

RESULTSThe AUC of this new diagnostic method was higher than 0.9. When the cut-off value of total serum allergen IgE level was ≥ 47 KU/L, the sensitivity and the specificity were 71.4% and 85.1%, respectively, which were better than those of either the ISSAC questionnaires or bronchial provocation test.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level may be an effective diagnostic tool for children's asthma.

Adolescent ; Allergens ; blood ; Asthma ; blood ; diagnosis ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical use of sieving detection among the childhood with allergic disease. METHOD: The sieving detection about allergen inhalant allergens, Fx5 in the CAP anaphylactogen detection system, and serum specific IgE were detected in three hundred and thirty-one cases of children (aged from 1 year to 14 years old) with allergic disease. Patients were divided into group 1, group 2 and group 3 according to the age from 0 to 3, 3 to 6, and 6 to 14 years old. All datas were statistical analysed among different age groups. RESULT: Among the 331 patients, the positive rate of allergic sieving detection was 67.98%, the elevation rate of IgE was 53.78%. Inhalant allergen positive rate was 60.42%, while the food allergen positive rate was 28.10%. Inhalant allergen positive rate of the group 3 (aged from 6 to 14 years old) was significant higher than the other two age groups (68.45%). And the food allergen positive rate of the age group 1 (aged from 0 to 3 years old) was significant higher than the other two age groups (62.50%). Positive rate for simply inhalant allergen was 39.88%, while positive rate for simply food allergen was 7.55% and mixed allergen was 20.54%. CONCLUSION Inhalant allergen was the main allergen of the children with allergic disease aged over 3 years old, while food allergen was the main allergen of the children with allergic disease aged below 3 years old. It was safe, sensible and effective to use Uni CAP anaphylactogen detection system for rapid assay of specific allergens.
Adolescent ; Allergens ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; blood ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Male

In order to study the relationship between serum specific IgE (sIgE) and allergen skin test, allergen skin tests and detections of sIgE in 220 allergic patients of Wuhan area were analyzed. The coherent rate of the two methods was beyond 70% (P < 0.01). It was concluded that the in vitro and in vivo detection methods of allergens have a high coherence and can be used as the effective ways to diagnose the allergic diseases in clinical practice.
Allergens ; China ; Dermatophagoides farinae/immunology ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/*immunology ; Skin Tests ; Urticaria/*immunology

To investigate whether human amniotic membrane (HAM) preparations have the possibility to type I hypersensitivity and its allergenicity. In systemic active allergic test model, 30 guinea pigs were equally divided into three groups. Each 10 guinea pigs were immunized with fresh HAM homogenate, albumen solution (positive control) and PBS (negative control). After the animals were stimulated with corresponding allergen, observe their reaction till dying or 3 h, then obtain blood samples, to determine blood histamine concentrations using chemical fluorometry and four hemorheologic markers by hemorheology analysis system. The guinea pigs responded to fresh HAM homogenate in almost the same manner as to PBS, and no obvious allergic reaction was observed in the animals except those in positive control group. The blood histamine concentration and four hemorheologic markers showed no significant differences between HAM and PBS (P > 0.05), both were much lower than positive control group (P < 0.01). Fresh HAM won't lead to type I hypersensitivity for lack of allergen performance.
Allergens ; immunology ; Amnion ; immunology ; Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine ; blood ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; immunology ; Materials Testing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the allergens of various allergic diseases in children.

METHODSSerum levels of Fx5E, Phadiatop and specific IgE were measured by the UniCAP100 System in 3 504 children with allergic diseases.

RESULTSThe positive rate of aeroallergens was obviously higher than that of food allergens in children with allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, asthma and papular urticaria. In contrast, the positive rate of food allergens was obviously higher than that of aeroallergens in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura and digestive diseases. The serum specific IgE level of aeroallergens was higher than that of food allergens. The dust and mite specific IgE levels reached to grade 6, while the food allergen specific IgE levels were lower than grade 3.

CONCLUSIONSAaeroallergens or food allergens vary remarkably in different allergic diseases in children. The level of specific IgE of aeroallergens is higher than that of food allergens.

Adolescent ; Allergens ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Male

House dust mites have been known as the most important allergen in respiratory allergic diseases. Among several mite allergens, group I and group II antigens were recognized as major allergens. We measured specific IgE and IgG subclass antibodies against whole body antigen (WBA) and two major allergens of Dermatophagoides farinae (Der fI and Der fII) in sera from 66 adults with asthma (asthma group) and 34 normal subjects (healthy group) by ELISA. The mean O.D. values of WBA-specific IgE and IgG subclass antibodies in 100 studied sera were significantly higher than those of the two major allergens (p<0.001) and the level of Der fII- IgG1, IgG4 and IgE were higher than those of Der fI but IgG2 of Der fI was higher than that of Der fII (p< 0.001). The level of IgG4 of WBA were significantly higher in the atopic group than in the nonatopic group (1.280 +/- 0.634 v.s. 0.8290 +/- 0.388, p< 0.001), but the WBA- IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 were not different between the two groups. Among IgG subclass antibodies of Der fI, IgG2 was significantly higher in the nonatopic group than in the atopic group (1.7770 +/- 0.255 v.s. 1.636 +/- 0.390, p< 0.05) but there were no differences in IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4. Among IgG subclass antibodies of Der fII, IgG2 (1.534 +/- 0.380 v.s. 1.3010 +/- .431, p< 0.05) and IgG4 (1.09650 +/- .567 v.s. 0.708 +/- 0.146, p< 0.001) were significantly higher in the atopic group than in the nonatopic group. IgE antibodies to WBA, Der fI and Der fII were significantly higher in the atopic group (p< 0.001). There were significant correlationships between the levels of IgE and IgG4 of WBA (r = 0.60), Der fI (r = 0.33) and Der fII (r = 0.72). Even though there were no differences in the levels of allergen specific IgE and IgG subclass antibodies between nonatopic healthy and nonatopic asthmatic groups, the number of sera with prominent level of IgG2 of WBA were more common in the nonatopic asthmatic group (69% in nonatopic asthma group v.s. 28% in nonatopic healthy group, X2-test, p< 0.01).
Allergens/*blood ; Animal ; Antigens/*blood ; Asthma/*immunology ; Comparative Study ; Human ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood ; Immunoglobulin G/*blood ; Mites/*immunology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution characteristics of serum specific IgE (sIgE) for inhaled allergens in children with different airway allergic diseases.

METHODSFluorescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the UniCAP250 system was performed to measure serum sIgE for 9 common inhaled allergens in 256 children aged 3-14 years with different airway allergic diseases. According to the clinical diagnosis, these children were divided into rhinitis group (37 children with allergic rhinitis), asthma group (82 children with bronchial asthma), and rhinitis-asthma group (137 children with allergic rhinitis complicated by bronchial asthma). The three groups were compared in terms of the detection rates of 9 inhaled allergens, sensitization level, and number of allergens.

RESULTSThe detection rate of serum sIgE for inhaled allergens was 57.3% (47/82) in the asthma group, 86.5% (32/37) in the rhinitis group, and 82.5% (113/137) in the rhinitis-asthma group (P<0.05). The most common allergen in the asthma, rhinitis, and the rhinitis-asthma groups was mould fungi (32.9%, 54.1%, and 48.9% respectively), followed by dust mites (30.5%, 45.9%, and 46.0% respectively), pollen (26.8%, 35.1%, and 32.8% respectively), pets (12.2%, 27.0%, and 18.2% respectively), and cockroach (9.8%, 5.4%, and 5.8% respectively). The rhinitis group and the rhinitis-asthma group had a significantly higher detection rate of mould fungi (mx2) than the asthma group (P<0.0166). There were no significant differences in the sensitization level of 9 allergens and number of allergens between the three groups.

CONCLUSIONSIn children with either bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, or bronchial asthma complicated by allergic rhinitis, the three most common inhaled allergens are mould fungi, dust mites, and pollens. Compared with bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis may be more closely associated with sensitization by mould fungi. The three common airway allergic diseases have similar distribution characteristics of inhaled allergens.

Adolescent ; Allergens ; immunology ; Asthma ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; immunology

BACKGROUND: Due to the westernization of living environments in Korea, a number of allergy patients are greatly increasing. External quality control assessments are difficult for allergy tests due to the lack of reference methods. We surveyed the current status of allergy tests performed in medical laboratories in Korea to prepare for an external quality control assessment in the near future. METHODS: We conducted a survey on internal and external quality control trials, calibrations and its intervals, medical staffs, analyzers in use, an average number of tests per months, and report formats. RESULTS: Among the 85 laboratories surveyed, 61 were doing allergy tests including 6 reference laboratories. There were two different types of analyzers (1) qualitative or semi-quantitative and (2) quantitative. These analyzers use either chemiluminescent or immunoblot method. Fifty-five laboratories were using 'qualitative or semi-quantitative' analyzers as a screening test and 31 laboratories were using quantitative analyzers. Most of the laboratories were only doing an internal quality control assessment included in the test kits. Excepting a few laboratories, calibrations were not done. About 34 laboratories reported numerical values with interpretative reports prepared by laboratory medical doctors. CONCLUSIONS: The necessity of external quality control assessment has become an issue for improving the quality of allergy tests. But due to the lack of standardization, it is difficult to carry out external quality control assessments. By grouping the laboratories in terms of the type of analyzers, we could overcome the problem of analyzer variations and launch an external quality control assessment program in the near future.
Allergens/*immunology ; Chemiluminescent Measurements/standards ; Humans ; Immunoassay/instrumentation/*standards ; Immunoblotting/standards ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood/immunology ; Korea ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the quality of life (QOL) in adults with allergic rhinitis according to the sensitization profile for relevant aeroallergens in Northern China, investigate the proportion of patients with coexisting asthma, and explore the correlation between QOL of rhinitis patients and the specific IgE level to the causative allergen. METHOD: One hundred and sixty-four allergic rhinitis patients participated in this study, whose clinical history, results of intradermal skin test and serum specific IgE levels to common aeroallergens in North China were collected. QOL was evaluated using the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ). RESULT: QOL of rhinitis patients was worse in those sensitized to tree pollens or weed pollens than those sensitized to house dust mites in Northern China. The proportion of patients with co-existing asthma was lower in tree pollen group than in house dust mite group or weed pollen group, and there was no significant difference between house dust mite group and weed pollen group. There was no significant correlation between QOL of rhinitis patients and the specific IgE level to the causative allergen. CONCLUSION In our study group, QOL of patients with allergic rhinitis varied with the allergen responsible for symptoms, but was not influenced by the specific IgE level to relevant allergen. The proportion of patients with co-existing asthma also varied with different pollen allergens. Rhinitis patients sensitized to weed pollens might be more likely to suffer from asthma than those sensitized to tree pollens.
Adult ; Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Asthma ; China ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; physiopathology