Serum IgE level and Clonorchis specific IgE in individuals with Clonorchis sinensis were determined by radioimmunosorbent(RIST) and radioallergosorbent technique(RAST) respectively. Highly significant elevations of serum IgE (P<0.001) and specific IgE antibodies (P<0.01) were observed in area from individuals with clonorchiasis. The mean values of serum IgE in individuals with clonorchiasis and healthy individuals were 2,372 IU/ml and 364 IU/ml respectively and specific IgE antibodies of both groups were 52.0 and 4.4%. A close correlation(r=0.9451) between serum IgE level and specific IgE antibodies were observed and correlation (r=0.6056) between serum IgE and EPG and between specific IgE and EPG(r=0.5693) were also observed.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; clonorchiasis ; immunology ; radioimmunosorbent test ; radioallergosorbent test ; IgA ; IgE ; serum

To characterize the patients whose asthma may be caused by Artemisia pollen extracts, we studied the bronchoprovocation test with Korean Artemisia pollen extracts (1:20 w/v), methacholine bronchial challenge test and wormwood-RAST in 32 asthmatic patients sensitized to Artemisia pollen. Twenty-six(81%) developed a 15% or greater decrease in FEVI after the inhalation of Artemisia pollen extracts and 13 patients showed early responses, 8 dual, and 5 late only. Thirteen(50%) out of 26 positive responders complained of seasonal aggravation of their asthmatic symptoms. Seven(53.8%) of the 13 seasonal type patients, 10(76.9%) of the 13 perennial type and 5(100%) of the 5 negative responders showed concurrent positive responses in the house dust bronchoprovocation test. The bronchial responsiveness to allergen(PD15) was more dependent upon the specific IgE level(bound radioactivity on wormwood-RAST) and multiple regression analysis revealed that the specific IgE level and methacholine PC20 may be contributory to allergen PD15. These results suggested that specific IgE to Artemisia pollen appears to be the major contributor to susceptibility to Artemisia bronchial challenges and this pollen may be considered as one of the important allergenic etiologies of atopic asthma in this country.
Allergens ; Asthma/diagnosis/*etiology ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Human ; *Pollen ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Skin Tests

The authors investigated the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) for the specific IgE and the prick test with hose dust mite in 129 patients with atopic dermatitis(AD) wit4 four or more family numbers. RAST and prick test results were described according to family background of respiratory atopy(RA) and severity of AD. The results are summarized as follows : l. A comparison between the prick test results and RAST reactions gave a concordance of 88%. The prick test was more sensitive than the RAST. 2. The level of specific IgE in patients with personal history(PH) or family history(FH) of RA was significantly increased compared to those in patients with only AD. 3. In patients without PH and FH of RA, the level of specific IgE in patients with FH of AD was significantly increased compared to those in patients without FH of AD. 4. The level of specific IgE did not reflect the severity of AD. From the above results, it could be concluded that type I allergy to house dust mite is not directly related to AD and it occurs predominantly in those patients with AD wha have a predisposition to RA.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dust* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Radioallergosorbent Test

A case is reported of anaphylactoid reaction to atracurium, used for the induetion of an- esthesia for skin graft in a 36 year old man. The patient had no previous history of any allergic tendency. It is not possible to distinguish between direct pharmacological effects and immune mediated hypersensitivity reactions by clinical observation alone. The mechanism of reaction in this patient was investigated by the leukocyte histamine release test, intradermal test, direct intravenous challenge with other induction agents used during the induction of anesthesia and radioallergosorbent test. The histamine releasing property of atracurium, the distinguishing methods between ana phylactic and anaphylatoid reaction, and the anesthetic management for this kind of reaction are discussed.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Anesthesia ; Atracurium* ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Intradermal Tests ; Leukocytes ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Skin ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence rate of sensitization to indoor allergens, especially cat allergen in children with nasal symptoms in Kunpo city. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of our radioallergosorbent test (RAST) database. We included 926 children with nasal symptoms between 3 months and 14 years of age. They underwent RAST which included 5 indoor and 4 food allergens. They were grouped according to age (0 to 3 years, 3 to 6 years, 6 to 9 years, 9 to 15 years). We calculated the prevalence rate of that sensitization according to age groups. RESULTS: Among the patients, 50.4% had the sensitization to at least > or =1 allergen of the RAST. The prevalence rate of sensitization increased according to the age group (P<0.05). The most common indoor allergen was Dermatophagoides farinae (D.f.) (22.6%), followed by cat (22.5%) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.) (17.4%). Especially in the 0 to 3 age group, cat allergen (22.1%), was the predominant allergen, followed by dog (18.1%) and D.f. (8.7%). Among 926 patients, the rate of cat ownership was only 0.43%. The most common food allergen was pork (15.7%), followed by milk (4.9%) and egg white (3.2%). Pearsons test revealed significant correlation between cat and pork (r=0.563, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: This study shows a high rate of sensitization to cat allergen especially the 0 to 3 age group. It might be caused by exposure to wild cat in the community. We need to design a policy to reduce airborne cat allergen in the community.
Allergens ; Animals ; Cats ; Child ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dogs ; Egg White ; Humans ; Milk ; Ownership ; Prevalence ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Retrospective Studies

In Korea, there are two descrite pollen seasons: a tree pollen season and a weed pollen season. In order to investigate the incidence of sensitization to the major pollens and to evaluate is clinical significance in respriatory allergic disease, skin prick tests were performed using 7 species of Korean pollen extracts (K-P extracts) and specific IgE was measured by the Phadebas radioallergosorbent test (RAST) in patients with positive skin prick tests. Of the 317 patients with respiratory allergic diseases 73 patients (23.0%) were skin prick test positive to one or more K-P extracts and the positive reactions to individual pollens were as follows: 14.2% (45/317) positive to sagebrush 10.4% to ragweed, 5.0% to grass, 4.1% to oak, 3.8% to alder, 1.9% to poplar; and 0% to pine. The 30-39yr old group manifested the highest skin test positivity 36.7%. There was no difference in the skin reactivity according to the patient's sex and the kinds of allergic disease. Also there was no relationship between birth season and skin test positivity. The agreement between the results of the skin prick test with K-P and commercially prepared Bencard's pollen extracts (B-P extracts) was good. There were good correlations between the strongly positive skin prick test and a posivite RAST and also between a netative skin prick test and a negative RAST. From this study, it can be concluded that overall sensitization rate of respiratory allergy patients to K-P exstracts was 23.0%, and that weed pollens such as sagebrush and ragweed were major pollens.
Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Pollen/adverse effects* ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity/diagnosis ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity/epidemiology* ; Skin Tests

We evaluated the correlations between the allergy skin test for house dust radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and the bronchial provocation test for revealing the sensitivity of the skin test and RAST, and for aiding in the search for the causative allergen in house dust asthmatics. There was an overall 72.5% agreement between the prick test and RAST, a 73.8% agreement between the prick test and house dust bronchoprovocation test (HD-BPT), and a 71.3% agreement between HD-BPT and RAST. A positive RAST was found with a positive HD-BPT in 71.2% of cases, and if RAST was negative, HD-BPT was negative in 46.9% of cases. 69.6% of the positive cases on prick test (more than 21 mm of erythema) were positive with RAST. All of the cases with a negative skin reaction to the prick test were negative to RAST. A positive skin test was found with a positive HD-BPT in 77.1% of cases, and if the prick test was negative, the HD-BPT was negative in 50.0% of cases. 87.5% of cases with a RAST positive exhibited a positive result with HD-BPT. A significant correlation was found between the results of prick tests and those of RASTs in the early response group of HD-BPT, but not in the late and dual response groups. There were significant correlations between total serum IgE and the results of HD-BPT, and total serum IgE value and the results of RAST. The greater the size of the prick test, the greater the likelihood of a positive HD-BPT. All 5 cases with an end point of intradermal skin test of a 5 degrees -5(-l) X 10(-2) dilution of house dust noted a negative HD-BPT. There was no significant correlation between total serum IgE and total eosinophil count. There was no significant correlation between wheal and erythema size of prick test and PC20 of methacholine.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma/diagnosis* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Dust/adverse effects* ; Female ; Human ; Intradermal Tests ; Male ; Middle Age ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism(s) of penicillins allergic reaction.

METHODSThe radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was used to detect 9 specific IgE antibodies, including major antigenic determinants: benzylpenicilloyl (BPO), ampicilloyl (APO), amoxicilloyl (AXO), phenoxomethylpenicilloyl (PVO) and flucloxacilloyl (FLUO), and minor antigenic determinants: benzylpenicillanyl (BPA), amoxicillanyl (AXA), 6-aminopenicillanic (APA) and phenoxomethylpenicillany (PVA), in the sera of 32 penicillin allergic patients. The relationship between specific IgE antibodies and penicillins chemical structures was studied by radioallergosorbent inhibition test.

RESULTSNineteen of 32 patients (59.4%) were RAST positive, among whom, five cases were positive only to one or two antigenic minor determinants, and three cases were positive only to one or three major antigenic determinants. The remaining 11 patients were positive not only to major antigenic determinants but also minor antigenic determinants. In 9 specific IgE antibodies, the positive rate of PVA-IgE was the highest (34.38%), followed by BPO-IgE (31.25%). The positive rate of FLUO-IgE was the lowest (15.63%). Of the total patient group, 53.13% were positive to one or more minor antigenic determinants, while 37.5% (12/32) were positive to one or more major antigenic determinants. The percentage of patients with urticarial reactions who were positive to minor antigenic determinants (63.16%) was significantly higher than observed in the anaphylactic shock group (38.5%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe minor antigenic determinant was important in allergic reaction. The combining sites of the specific IgE antibodies were likely to be the side-chain of drug or the overwhelming drug molecule.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies ; blood ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Epitopes ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penicillins ; immunology ; Radioallergosorbent Test

The major apple allergen Mal d 1 cross-reacts with the homologous birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and causes immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated immediate-type allergic reactions. In some patients, delayed-type hypersensitivity to apples may develop within 72 hours without evidence of specific IgE or a positive skin prick test (SPT). The aim of the study was to evaluate the concomitance of delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions and immediate IgE-mediated reactions against high- and low-allergenic apple cultivars in patients with birch pollen allergy. Data were obtained from 45 adults with clinical symptoms of birch pollen allergy. Patients were exposed to apple pulp via atopy patch tests (APTs) and SPTs. Levels of IgE specific to Bet v 1 and Mal d 1 were measured with a radioallergosorbent test. Patients allergic to birch pollen showed the highest rate of positive SPT responses to Golden Delicious apples and the lowest rate to low-allergenic cultivar Grey French Reinette. Among these patients, 9% developed delayed hypersensitivity reactions to either Golden Delicious or Grey French Reinette apples; these reactions manifested clinically as erythema with papules (class ++). Fifty percent of APT-positive patients were concomitantly SPT-negative. Here, we show for the first time the clinical relevance of T cell-driven allergic reactions to apples. APTs may reveal type IV sensitization in patients who are negative for the corresponding type I sensitization tests. Thus, utilization of the APT procedure with fresh apple appears to be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of apple allergy and may improve the accuracy of food allergy diagnoses.
Adult ; Betula* ; Diagnosis ; Erythema ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Incidence* ; Malus* ; Patch Tests ; Pollen* ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity to penicillin has been studied worldwide, but data regarding patterns of sensitization in Arabian Gulf countries are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To describe the patterns of penicillin hypersensitivity during a 6-year study in Kuwait in terms of demographics, type of the culprit drug, in vivo and in vitro allergy testing. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four patients referred to the drug allergy clinic for penicillin allergy were fully evaluated by skin prick and intradermal testing. Drug provocation test was done on patients with negative results. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients were evaluated for penicillin allergy. Mean age was 37.8 (standard deviation, 12.7) years, range from 8 to 74 years. Thirty-nine male (31.5%) and 85 female patients (68.5%) were included. Diagnosis of penicillin allergy was confirmed in 46 patients (37.1%). Among the 44 confirmed allergic patients by skin evaluation we had 15 (34.1%) positive skin prick test, and 29 (65.9%) positive intradermal testing. Among patients with positive skin testing, 47.7% were positive to major determinant benzylpenicilloyl poly-L-lysine, 20.4% to minor determinant mixture, 50.0% to penicillin G and 40.9% to ampicillin; 13.6% of patients were positive to amoxicillin by skin prick test. One patient had a positive radioallergosorbent test and one had a positive challenge test. CONCLUSION: Penicillin allergy is a common problem with an incidence of about one third in our study subjects.
Amoxicillin ; Ampicillin ; Demography ; Diagnosis ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; In Vitro Techniques ; Incidence ; Intradermal Tests ; Kuwait ; Male ; Penicillin G ; Penicillins ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Skin ; Skin Tests