Distribution characteristics and clinical significance of specific immunoglobulin E in asthmatic and allergic rhinitis children with multiple sensitization factors

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the distribution characteristics of the positive ratio of serum allergen speci-fic IgE(sIgE) in asthmatic and allergic rhinitis children with multiple sensitization factors, which may be beneficial for recommendations on the avoidance of allergen and assessment of atopic disease. Methods A total of 128 children with asthma and allergic rhinitis were enrolled(93 male, 35 female, aged from 1.5 to 16.1 years old, and the average age was 7 years and 8 months). All of the patients were presented as positive allergic screening test results for 2 or more kinds of allergen when evaluated.Eighty-seven patients were diagnosed as asthma combined with allergic rhinitis, while 38 cases with allergic rhinitis and 3 cases with asthma.The serum sIgE levels to 29 kinds of inhalant allergens and food allergens for each patients were detected by the UniCAP250 quantified IgE measurement system. Results The positive ra-tios of each inhalant allergen for all the patients were as follows: 67% for House dust, 61% for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 59% for Dermatophagoides farinae, 50% for Alternaria alternata, 42% for Blomia tropicalis, 29% for Cat dander, 23% for Dog dander, 11% for Cockroach, 32% for Artemisia vulgaris, 29% for Humulus scandens, 28% for White ash, 26% for Ambrosia elatior, 24% for Willow, 24% for Mountain juniper, 24% for London plane, 24% for Humulus scandens, 22% for Chenopodium album and 20% for Common silver birch; the positive ratios of each food allergen were as follows: 25% for Milk, 25% for Egg white, 7% for Shrimp, 6% for Crab, 6% for Egg yolk, 4% for Chicken, 2% for Fish, 31% for Wheat, 20% for Peanut, 17% for Soybean, 27% for Peach and 21% for Tomato.Sixty-five patients with positive results to food allergens were divided into food allergen sensitization group while the other 53 patients for food allergen non-sensitization group.The positive ratios of different inhalant allergens such as Dog dander, Alternaria alternate, Common silver birch, Mountain juniper, London plane, Willow, White ash, Ambrosia elatior, Artemisia vulgaris, Chenopodium album, Humulus scandens of children in the food allergen sensitization group were 35.4%, 60.0%, 39.7%, 41.5%, 43.1%, 43.1%, 46.2%, 43.1%, 55.4%, 40.0%, 44.6%, which were higher than those in the food allergen non-sensitization group(11.1%, 39.7%, 1.6%, 6.3%, 4.8%, 4.8%, 9.5%, 7.9%, 7.9%, 3.2%, 3.2%, respectively, all P<0.05). The positive ratios of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae and House dust in the food allergen non-sensitization group were 69.8%, 69.8%, 76.2%, respectively, which were higher than those in the food allergen sensitization group (52.3%, 49.2%, 58.5%, respectively, all P<0.05). Eighty-two point eight percent of the children with asthma combined with allergic rhinitis and 73.7% of the children with allergic rhinitis were sensitive to 3 or more kinds of inhalant allergens. Conclusions Inhalant allergens such as house dust, mites and molds were the main sensitization allergen for asthmatic and allergic rhinitis children with multiple sensitization factors.The asthmatic and allergic rhinitis children with food allergens sensitization often presented sensitive to animal dander, molds and outdoor inhalant allergens, while those without food allergens sensitization were more commonly sensitive to indoor allergens. Key words: Asthma; Allergic rhinitis; Specific immunoglobulin E; Allergen