Frequency of allergic sensitization to Can f 5 in North East Italy. An analysis of 1403 ISACs 112 (Component Resolved Diagnosis) collected retrospectively

Abstract

Recent studies have shown the increasing relevance of allergic sensitization to Can f 5, a prostatic kallicrein expressed in the prostate and detectable only in male dogs. The aim of the present study was to establish the frequency, level of sensitization and association with other dog allergens of Can f 5, as assessed by Component Resolved Diagnosis (CRD- ISAC 112, ThermoFisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden), in North East Italy. A total of 1403 CRD ISAC 112 were examined retrospectively. Five-hundred twenty subjects (37 %) had a positive IgE response to at least one of the available animal allergens. Among these 520 subjects, 268 (51.5 %) showed at least one sensitization to dog allergens. Among dog-sensitized individuals, 183 (69.02%) showed IgE against Can f 5, and 106 (57.92%) were sensitized exclusively against Can f 5. The average Can f 5 specific IgE was 8.810 ISU-E, with 77.6 % of individuals showing medium or high values of specific IgE according to manufacturer's specifications. In conclusions, our data confirmed that there is a high number of sensitized patients to Can f 5, which have a high degree of allergic sensitization. These results should be taken into account by allergists managing dog allergic patients. In fact, clinical consequences of this sensitization regard respiratory allergy (burden of rhinitis/asthma), systemic reactions (anaphylaxis during sexual intercourse from cross-reaction with human prostatic antigen), allergen immunotherapy-AIT (likely ineffective in patients with exclusive sensitization), and preventive measures (possibility to own a female dog and a likely reduction of allergen passive transport). Further studies are needed to better explore these aspects in "real life".