Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test-Immunoblot Assay for Immunoglobulin E Detection in Patients with Isolated Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Jung Yeob Han,Young Jun Kim,Jae Lim Chung,Jae Yong Kim,Hun Lee,Hungwon Tchah

doi:10.3390/jcm10050960

Jung Yeob Han, Young Jun Kim + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10050960

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Abstract

We aimed to investigate the immunoglobulin E (IgE) detection rate and allergen patterns in patients with isolated allergic conjunctivitis using the multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST)-immunoblot assay. A total of 120 patients with allergic conjunctivitis and no associated rhinitis, asthma, or dermatitis underwent the MAST-immunoblot assay to measure serum total IgE (TIgE) and serum specific IgE (SIgE) against 57 allergens. Patients were classified into subgroups based on the season when the eye symptoms were exacerbated, and TIgE and SIgE positivity. Differences between sex and age groups were also analyzed. Of the 120 patients, 57.5% (69 patients) and 69.2% (83 patients) were positive for TIgE (≥100 IU/mL) and SIgE (≥0.7 IU/mL), respectively. The allergens that most frequently triggered sensitization in the study population were Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Alternaria, and house dust. House dust mites, such as D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus, showed the highest detection rates regardless of the season. Men had a higher positive rate for TIgE than women, whereas a higher rate of sensitization, detected as SIgE positivity, was seen in younger patients. In conclusion, MAST-immunoblot assay can detect sensitizing allergens in patients with isolated allergic conjunctivitis.

Highlights

Allergy is defined as type I hypersensitivity reaction to certain substances known as allergens [1]
Patients were excluded from analysis using the following criteria: (1) diagnosed with immunoglobulin E (IgE) and non-IgE mediated ocular allergy or non-IgE mediated ocular allergy; (2) allergic symptoms other than those involving the eye, such as rhinitis, dermatitis, and asthma; and (3) comorbid conditions that could affect serum IgE levels, such as infectious diseases caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Campylobacter jejuni, Candida, helminth, and human immunodeficiency virus; neoplastic diseases; pregnancy; or postpartum conditions
The allergens that were most frequently detected through multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST) in the total study population were Dermatophagoides farinae (36.7%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (34.2%), Tyrophagus putrescentiae (17.5%), Alternaria (15.8%), and house dust (14.2%) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Allergy is defined as type I hypersensitivity reaction to certain substances known as allergens (e.g., environmental factors, food, and drugs) [1]. Allergic diseases are usually diagnosed based on the clinical history and characteristic signs and symptoms; measuring immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels using in vivo or in vitro methods is performed to detect sensitization [5]. Further exposure to allergens induces the degranulation of mast cells or basophils, leading to the secretion of inflammatory mediators, cytokines, chemokines, and eicosanoids [7]. This process causes several systemic or localized effects, such as vasodilation, smooth muscle contraction, mucous production, and tissue eosinophilic infiltration [8]. In vivo tests include the skin prick test (SPT), intradermal test, and nasal or conjunctival provocation test, whereas in vitro tests involve measurement of serum total immunoglobulin E (TIgE) and serum-specific immunoglobulin E (SIgE) levels (e.g., the fluoroallergosorbent test (FAST), ImmunoCAP (Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden), Immulite (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA), and multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST)) [9,10]

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