Food IgE-Sensitization in Respiratory Allergic Patients in Jakarta

Abstract

Food allergy and respiratory allergy may co-exist in atopic person. Although both conditions can worsen allergic symptoms, food allergen sensitization has not gain much attention in clinical studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate food IgE sensitization in respiratory allergic patients. This was a cross-sectional study in patients with a history of respiratory allergy in Jakarta, on September to December 2016. Adult asthmatic patients aged 19-60 years were invited to undergo serum specific IgE testing at the Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. Patients were included if they showed at least one positive skin prick test with environmental allergens. Quantitative determination of specific IgE in serum was carried out by multiple allergosorbent test. Serum specific IgE levels of more than 0.35 kU/L or Class 1 was considered positive. A total of 100 subjects were eligible for analysis; 76% were women. Patients mean age was 38.8 + 12.1 (range 19-59) years old; 62% of the patients have both asthma and allergic rhinitis. There are 46% patients with at least one positive food-IgE sensitization. The most common sensitization was to shrimp (17%), followed by fruit-mix (14%), goat milk (13%), crab (13%), potato (13%), soybean (11%), and strawberry (11%). Significant difference of IgE sensitization was found between house dust mites and crab or shrimp and between cockroach and crab or shrimp. In conclusion food-IgE sensitization in respiratory allergic patients is common. The most common allergens were shrimp, fruit-mix, goat milk, crab, and potato.