Frequent Allergens Research Articles

Clinical Features and Culprit Food Allergens of Korean Adult Food Allergy Patients: A Cross-Sectional Single-Institute Study.

PurposeTo investigate the causative allergens and clinical characteristics of Korean adult patients with food allergy (FA).MethodsThis retrospective, cross-sectional single-institutional study enrolled Korean adult patients (n = 812) suspected of having FA. For diagnosis, causality assessment history taking, ImmunoCAP specific immunoglobulin E measurement and/or skin prick test were performed.ResultsAmong 812 patients, 415 were diagnosed as having FA. The most common causative allergen was fruit, with a diagnosis of pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS: 155, 37.3%), followed by crustaceans (111, 26.7%), wheat (63, 15.1%), fruits in patients without PFAS(43, 10.3%), buckwheat (31, 7.4%), peanut (31, 7.4%), walnut (25, 6.0%), red meat due to reaction to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) (8, 1.9%), and silkworm pupa (13, 3.1%). Allergy to egg, milk, fish, or shellfish was rare in Korean adults. One-third of patients with FA exhibited multiple FAs (238/415, 57.3%); the average number of causative allergens was 2.39. About 129 patients (31.0%) were diagnosed as having anaphylaxis; in these patients, wheat was the most frequent causative food. Twenty patients were further diagnosed with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA); all were due to wheat. In particular, crustaceans, wheat, PFAS, buckwheat, and red meat (α-Gal) were also frequent causes of anaphylaxis.ConclusionsWheat, fruits with or without PFAS, and crustaceans are important and frequent causative allergens in Korean adult FA; these allergens differ from those found in childhood FA. It is notable that non-classic allergies, such as PFAS, FDEIA, and α-Gal allergy, are the important causes of anaphylaxis in Korean adult FA.

Sensitization to fragrances in Spain: A 5‐year multicentre study (2011‐2015)

Fragrance chemicals constitute the second most frequent cause of contact allergy in Spain. There are no data available concerning the individual fragrances that are most frequently involved. To describe the diagnostic contribution provided by specific fragrance series to the results obtained with baseline series fragrance markers by correlating the results of both series. We performed a 5-year retrospective study of fragrance marker-positive patients tested with specific fragrance series in 23 Spanish centres. We collected the demographic and clinical characteristics, and compared the results of patch tests obtained from different suppliers. Of 19 588 patients patch tested with the Spanish baseline series, 1590 (8.1%) reacted positively to a fragrance marker. Of these, 1013 (63.7%) were patch tested with a fragrance series, and 664 patients reacted positively to at least one individual fragrance other than hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde. Geraniol was the most frequent allergen. Positive reactions to substances not included in fragrance mix (FM) I or FM II were found in 230 patients. Of the 436 FM I-positive patients and the 419 FM II-positive patients, 184 (42%) and 64 (39.1%), respectively, had no positive reactions to fragrance series. In the case of FM I, negative results were more common when individual fragrances were patch tested at low concentrations. We recommend patch testing all patients positive for any fragrance marker with a specific fragrance series. The correlation between the results of baseline series and fragrance series could be improved by increasing the concentrations of individual fragrances.

An epidemiological study of allergic contact dermatitis in Greece: prevalence of sensitization to an adapted European baseline series’ allergens

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Contact dermatitis is a common skin disorder related to environmental exposures affecting, all age groups, and both genders. The pattern of contact sensitization to a series of allergens included in the European baseline series has already been studied for a number of EU countries by the ESSCA Network. The current study aims to explore the patterns of contact dermatitis in Greece through a patch test against a large number of allergens provoking contact dermatitis.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Retrospective analyses of routine data of 668 patients were collected during 2014 in the Laboratory of Patch Testing, National Referral Centre of Occupational Dermatoses. Sensitization in all cases was tested with a battery of 28 allergens of the European baseline series and additional ones aiming to identify new sensitizations to inform the National baseline of allergens; information for an extended MOAHLFA index was also collected.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> One at least positive result was found in 61.5% of the patients while 19.1% of those found to be sensitized in two or more allergens. Nickel sulphate, fragrance mix and balsam of Peru were the most prevalent allergens in the total population, as well as with respect to gender. Nickel is the most frequent allergen of baseline series, a result which is in agreement with other reports.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Allergic contact dermatitis surveillance is of great importance towards the clinical and systematic understanding of the disease. Further studies should be directed towards that end, in order to facilitate more effective health policies.</p>

Five hundred patients reporting on adverse effects from dental materials: Frequencies, complaints, symptoms, allergies

ObjectiveInformation on patients with real or claimed adverse reactions towards dental materials in large patient cohorts is rare. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate patients reporting on complaints and symptoms to dental materials over a 16-year period. MethodsFive hundred patients were characterized by one single dental team regarding age and sex distribution, subjective complaints and objective intraoral symptoms, and allergy status relevant to dental materials. ResultsElder patients and females predominated. Subjective complaints were reported by 490 patients, ranging from 1 to 12 complaints per patient. Most often, burning mouth (44%), tooth-/jawache (22%) and dry mouth (20%) were reported. In 54% no objective intraoral symptom was diagnosed. The main objective intraoral symptoms were tongue anomalies (lingua plicata or geographica; 14%), gingivitis adjacent to restorations (12%), redness of the palate or the edentulous ridge (7%), oral lichen planus (6%), grayish discolorations, lichenoid contact lesions, and leukoplakia (<5%). Patch testing of 416 (83%) patients revealed that allergy was diagnosed as contributing to the complaints or symptoms in 70 (14%) patients with metals being the most frequent allergens. Gingivitis adjacent to restorations (3.2%), redness of the palate or edentulous ridge (1.4%) and whitish lichen-like lesions (1.8%) were associated to allergy from dental materials. SignificanceThe high number of subjective complaints per patient and their wide variety suggests that most patients seriously suffered. Furthermore, the fact that only 46% of the patients had objective intraoral symptoms demands for an interdisciplinary collaboration to elucidate other than dental causes.

Frequency and Pattern of IgE-mediated Sensitization to Aero and Food Allergens in Ahvaz, Province of Khuzestan in Southwestern Iran.

Efficient diagnosis of allergy and proper treatment need identification of the causative allergens eliciting clinical symptoms. The present study was performed to identify the most common aero- and food allergens and determine the pattern of sensitization among people of Ahvaz (southwestern Iran), one of the most polluted cities worldwide. Based on the physical examination and medical records, patients were referred to the Allergy laboratory for "in vitro" IgE determination. Specific and total IgE was determined by the ImmunoCAP system (Thermo Fisher-Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). A total of 666 consecutive patients (51.1% female) were tested for 202 different allergens. The majority of requests (57%) belonged to food allergens. Sensitization to at least one allergen was found in 47.6% of patients. In a selected group of allergens for which specific IgE had been tested in at least 100 patients, the most common sensitizing aeroallergens were Russian thistle, grass pollen, and willow; while wheat, honey, and shrimp were the most frequent food allergens, respectively. Sensitization profiles based on measurement of specific IgE indicated that Russian thistle, grasses, and wheat were the most prevalent allergens in people with allergic symptoms living in Ahvaz.

Asthma, Eczema, and Food Allergy in Children Following Liver Transplantation

To describe the prevalence and the relationship between asthma, eczema, food allergy, and rhinitis in children after liver transplantation. Children who were liver transplant recipients were investigated to assess whether the high prevalence of food allergies was accompanied by eczema, rhinitis, and asthma. Furthermore, we included 56 children with chronic liver disease to explore the risk of allergy, eczema, and asthma in this group. After liver transplantation, children had higher prevalence of allergic reactions to food as compared with children with chronic liver disease (P < .001). Current asthma (P = .04) and eczema (P < .02) were observed more frequently in transplanted children as compared with children with chronic liver disease. For transplanted children who had ever received tacrolimus the relative risk (RR) of asthma was 1.7 (95% CI, 1.2-2.4; P = .02) as compared with children with chronic liver disease. Transplanted children with asthma had higher rates of sensitization to food allergens than those without asthma (RR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-10.3; P = .01). The most frequent food allergens associated with asthma in transplanted children were milk (RR for asthma, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.6-9.4; P < .01), eggs (RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-7.0; P = .03), and peanuts (RR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.6-8.3; P < .01). Food allergies occurred earlier than asthma, at 1.5 years after transplantation (IQR, 0.5-3.0 years) vs 2.5 years after transplantation (IQR, 1.0-4.5 years; P < .05). Food allergies were also associated with eczema, but not with sensitization to aero-allergens or rhinitis. The high risk of food allergies in children who were liver transplant recipients was associated with eczema and asthma, but not rhinitis. The most frequent food allergens associated with asthma were milk, eggs, and peanuts.

Allergic diseases in children and adolescents in Germany. Results of the cross-sectional KiGGS Wave 2 study and trends.

Allergic diseases are among the most common health issues children and adolescents face. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system becomes allergically sensitised and are detected by measuring levels of specific immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE antibodies) in the blood. This article discusses the prevalences of bronchial asthma, hay fever, atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis for 0- to 17-year-olds, as well as the prevalence of allergic sensitisation to a mix of frequent inhalant allergens (SX1) among 3- to 17-year-olds based on data from the second wave of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS Wave 2, 2014-2017). 12-month prevalence trends between KiGGS Wave 2 and the KiGGS baseline study (2003-2006) are shown according to gender and age group. There were no significant changes in the 12-month prevalence of hay fever (8.8%) atopic dermatitis (7.0%) and bronchial asthma (3.5%) compared to the KiGGS baseline study, which indicates a stabilisation at a high level. More than one in six children (16.1%) currently suffer from at least one of these three diseases. 37.1% of 3- to 17-year-olds are sensitised to the multiple allergen mix SX1. Similar to the development of disease prevalence, SX1 sensitisation too has remained stable at a high level over the course of the past ten years.

Contact sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis

BackgroundAtopic dermatitis is a common illness in childhood. Children with atopic dermatitis are prone to develop cutaneous sensitization due to skin barrier dysfunction. AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of cutaneous sensitizations in patients with atopic dermatitis and to identify the most frequent causative allergens. Study designThe study group consisted of 112 children with atopic dermatitis, aged 1–18 years (median 88.5 months) and 39 healthy controls, aged 1–8 years (median 88.48 months). MethodsThe diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was established by modified Hanifin and Rajka criteria; severity of the disease was assessed by scoring of atopic dermatitis. Serum blood eosinophil count, total IgE and skin prick tests for common aeroallergens and food allergens were performed. Patch tests with cosmetic series and European standard patch test series (Stallegenes© Ltd, Paris, France) were applied. ResultsOf the children with atopic dermatitis, 17% (n=19) were sensitized to either cosmetic or standard series or both of them; no children in the control group had a positive patch test (p=0.001). Atopy and severity of atopic dermatitis was not a significant risk factor for cutaneous sensitization. The most common allergens were Nickel sulphate and Methychloroisothiazinolone (4.5% and 4.5%) in the European standard patch test and cocamidoproplybetaine (12.5%) in the cosmetic series patch test. ConclusionCutaneous sensitization can develop in children with atopic dermatitis, therefore allergic contact dermatitis should be kept in mind.

Evaluating the associations of race, ethnicity, and food allergens in the development of childhood asthma: Re-analysis of publicly available retrospective cross-sectional cohort data

Asthma is among the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children worldwide. Sociodemographic factors, such as race and ethnicity, as well as food allergens and their association with asthma, have been extensively studied in an individual manner. Less is known about how food allergens can influence the effect of sociodemographic factors on childhood asthma prevalence. In this study, we re-analyzed a publicly available retrospective cross-sectional cohort dataset of childhood asthma. Multiple logistic regression of asthma by race and ethnicity, before and after adjustment by the most prevalent allergens, was implemented to the dataset. Hispanic individuals showed a higher odds risk (ORs; 1.30, CI 1.26 – 1.35) of asthma than Non-Hispanic individuals (0.24, CI 0.23 – 0.25), but after adjustment by most frequent food allergens reactivities (shellfish, peanut, and milk), the asthma odd risks were comparable (Hispanic, 3.62 [CI 3.49 – 3.76]; Non-Hispanic, 3.51 [3.47 – 3.52]). When considering race, Black individuals (1.90, CI 1.87 – 1.94) had higher ORs of asthma than White individuals (0.21, CI 0.20 – 0.22), Asian/Pacific Islander individuals (1.00, CI 0.95 – 1.05), and Other/Unknown races (1.14, CI 1.11 – 1.27). Although the ORs increased by three to four times for all races after adjusting for the most frequent food allergen reactivities, the same pattern of childhood asthma remained when considering races (in this order, Black, Other/Unknown, Asian/Pacific Islander, and White). In the dataset evaluated in this study, food allergens modified the association of race and ethnicity with the development of asthma. Therefore, public health interventions that gear towards the incidence of childhood asthma should contemplate the interplay and differences in nutrition among races and ethnicities.

Inmunoterapia alérgeno específica: Prevalencia de alérgenos en consulta privada de alergología en Cáceres.

Resumen: Según la Sociedad Española de Alergología e Inmunología Clínica (SEAIC), las enfermedades alérgicas afectan a un 30% de la población española. La alergia ocupa la sexta posición dentro de las diez enfermedades o problemas de salud que la población de 15 años o más refiere padecer con mayor frecuencia (13,37%), según la Encuesta Europea de Salud en España (EESE) 2014, realizada por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). Desde la primera inoculación subcutánea por Leonard Noon en el año 1911 de un extracto de Phleum pratense a pacientes polínicos, se han publicado múltiples estudios controlados que demuestran que la inmunoterapia alérgeno específica es el único tratamiento capaz de modificar el curso natural de la enfermedad alérgica, reduciendo significativamente la severidad de la enfermedad y el consumo de medicación, así como mejorar considerablemente la calidad de vida. En el presente estudio se han recogido datos de 46 pacientes mayores de 14 años que reciben inmunoterapia, con pauta rush, en una consulta de alergia privada de la ciudad de Cáceres para conocer cuál es el alérgeno frente al que más se vacunaban y su seguridad, obteniendo un mayor porcentaje en “Mezcla de gramíneas 100%”, que representa un 47,83% de los estudiados, seguida de “Mezcla gramíneas 50% Olea europaea 50%” con un 28,26% y se demuestra que la inmunoterapia subcutánea es un método seguro y adecuado para el tratamiento de la alergia.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by dexpanthenol-Probably a frequent allergen.

Panthenol (synonym: dexpanthenol), the alcohol analogue of panthothenic acid, is frequently included in moisturizers, wound-healing agents, and other cosmetics, and has been shown to be responsible for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). To evaluate the frequency of ACD caused by dexpanthenol, and to characterize reactive patients. We retrospectively reviewed the files of patients patch tested between 2009 and 2017 in the Department of Dermatology of the Coimbra's University Hospital and describe patients who reacted to dexpanthenol 5% pet., tested initially in a cosmetic/vehicle series and in the last 3 years in consecutive patients. Among 2171 patients, 26 (1.2%) had positive patch test reactions to dexpanthenol, mostly patients tested for chronic eczema (88.5%, n = 23), either widespread (5), or localized to the hands (5), face (4), or legs (7). Relevance could be traced in 20 patients (76.9%), related to the use of Bepanthene cream (15), moisturizers (3), topical medications (1), and a shampoo (1). Twenty-five of 26 patients (96.2%) reacted to several other allergens, mostly ingredients of cosmetic or pharmaceutical products. Although ACD caused by dexpanthenol is considered to be rare, it may be frequently overlooked. As we found a relatively high frequency of relevant cases, in agreement with a previous study, the inclusion of dexpanthenol in patch test series, at least in cosmetic and topical drug series, is encouraged.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis-Induced Stereospecificity.

Frequent allergens are known, but not whether allergens are enantiomer specific. Chemicals were tested on guinea pigs and humans to answer this question. Frullanoides showed evident allergic enantiospecificity, whereas the conclusion was shaded for α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone. A link between this chemical and chronic actinic dermatitis was proposed. No clear tendency to enantio-stereospecificity in inducing allergic contact dermatitis was ascertained. Future studies using contemporary analytical chemistry and new immunologic knowledge have to be undertaken to provide clearer mechanistic insights. This information may aid in attempts to decrease product allergenicity.

Is a specific eyelid patch test series useful? Results of a French prospective study.

Eyelids are frequent sites of contact dermatitis. No prospective study focused on eyelid allergic contact dermatitis (EACD) has yet been published, and this topic has never been studied in French patients. To prospectively evaluate the usefulness of an eyelid series in French patients patch tested because of EACD, and to describe these patients. We prospectively analysed standardized data for all patients referred to our departments between September 2014 and August 2016 for patch testing for suspected EACD as the main reason. All patients were patch tested with an eyelid series, the European baseline series (EBS), the French additional series, and their personal products. Patch testing with additional series and repeated open application tests (ROATs) or open tests were performed if necessary. A standardized assessment of the relevance was used, and the analysis of the results was focused on patients having positive test results with a current certain relevance. Two-hundred and sixty-four patients (238 women and 26 men) were included. Three-hundred and twenty-two tests gave positive results in 167 patients, 84 of whom had currently relevant reactions: 56 had currently relevant positive test reactions to the EBS, 16 had currently relevant positive test reactions to their personal products, 8 had currently relevant positive test reactions to the French additional series, and 4 had currently relevant positive test reactions to the eyelid series. Sixty-seven per cent of all relevant cases were related to cosmetic products. The most frequent allergens with current relevance were methylisothiazolinone (10.2%), fragrance mix I (3%), nickel (2.7%), hydroxyperoxides of linalool (2.7%) and limonene (2.3%), and Myroxylon pereirae (2.3%). Current atopic dermatitis was found in 9.5% of patients. The duration of dermatitis was shorter (23.2 vs 34.2 months; P = .035) in patients with currently relevant test reactions. The percentage of currently relevant tests remained the same when atopic patients or dermatitis localized only on the eyelids were taken into account. In French patients, testing for EACD with the extended baseline series and personal products, also including ROATs and use tests, appears to be adequate, considering the currently relevant positive test reactions. The regular addition of an eyelid series does not seem to be necessary.

Hand eczema in children. Clinical and epidemiological study of the population referred to a tertiary hospital

Abstract Introduction Hand eczema is a frequent disease in adults. Diagnosing the cause of hand eczema is difficult due to different classifications. There is lack of evidence on hand eczema and its causes in children. Material and method A total of 389 children between 0 and 16 years were identified between 1996 and 2016, from whom 42 (10.8%) with exclusively hand eczema were selected. In all cases a standard battery of epicutaneous patch tests was performed, as well as additional batteries depending on the clinical suspicion. The clinical and epidemiological features of these children were recorded and compared against children with eczema in other locations. Results The 42 children with hand eczema included 25 (59.5%) girls, and 17 (40.5%) boys, with a mean age of 10.6 ± 3.9 years, and did not differ from that of children with eczema in other locations. The definitive diagnosis after patch-testing was Atopic Dermatitis in 15 cases, Allergic Contact Dermatitis in 14 patients, Endogenous Vesiculous Eczema in 6 cases, Endogenous Hyperkeratotic Eczema in 5 cases, and Irritant Contact Dermatitis in 2 cases. The most frequent allergens detected were thiomersal (9 cases), nickel (5 cases), mercury (5 cases), and cobalt (4 cases). Conclusion Hand eczema is a common condition in children. The most common cause is atopic dermatitis, although cases of allergic contact dermatitis manifesting as hand eczema are not uncommon. Any child with eczema of hands in whom an allergic cause is suspected should be referred for patch- testing.

Perfil de Sensibilização num hospital do litoral norte de Portugal

Introduction: Skin prick tests are important in the evaluation of allergic sensitization. Besides allowing identifying the allergens involved, they are important for the implementation of environmental eviction measures and therapeutic strategies. Objectives: To identify the sensitization profile to aeroallergens in children with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis followed in an hospital in the north coast of Portugal. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with a review of the clinical processes of patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, who performed skin prick tests from august 2012 to april 2016. The variables analyzed were: age, gender, allergic disease (asthma and/or allergic rhinitis), comorbidities and the results of the skin tests performed. The data obtained were organized using the program SPSS 20.0, for Windows. A descriptive analysis of the different variables was performed. Results: Three hundred and twelve patients were included, aged five to 18 years, 63,5% males and 36,5% females. The diagnosis established were: allergic rhinitis in 47%, asthma in 19% and the combination of asthma and allergic rhinitis in 34% of the cases. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (87,5%), Lepidoglyphus destructor (70,5%) and Dermatophagoides farinae (69,9%) were the most frequent allergens, followed by wild gramineae (47,4%) and cultivated gramineae (41,3%). Conclusions: In this study the main allergens determined by the skin tests were the mites, with high incidence of Lepidoglyphus destructor. Since immunotherapy with allergens is the only therapy directed to the cause of the allergic disease and with the potential to modify the evolution, an adequate selection of its components is essential to optimize the results. As the sensitization profile of each region depends on several variables this information allows a better diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Allergen sensitisation among chronic respiratory diseases in urban and rural areas of the south of Viet Nam.

To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for allergen sensitisation among patients with chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in southern Viet Nam. An environmental questionnaire and skin prick tests for airborne and food allergens were administered to patients with CRD, defined as individuals with respiratory symptoms and lung function defects. Of 610 CRD patients, 56% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 31% were asthma patients; 80% were males. The most frequent sensitisers were dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae 22%, Blomia tropicalis 19%, D. pteronyssinus 18%) and cockroach droppings (13%). Among study participants, 37% were from rural settings and 36% from urban areas, whereas 27% had migrated from rural to urban areas. Compared with people from rural areas, being born in an urban area was a risk factor for sensitisation to mites (OR 1.56, 95%CI 1.11-2.20, P < 0.02). In multivariate analysis, place of birth remained a risk factor for mite sensitisation. Compared with the native urban population, the risk of mite sensitisation was not significantly different among patients born in rural areas and those migrating to urban areas. Dust mites and cockroach droppings were the most frequent allergens among people with CRD in the south of Viet Nam. Compared with the urban population, being native to a rural area was protective against mite sensitisation, but this effect ceased to be significant after migration from rural to urban areas.

Specific IgE for Aero and Food Allergens in Adult Chronic Urticaria Patients Without Other Allergic Diseases

Chronic Urticaria (CU) is a diseases characterized by occurrence of spontaneous wheels observed by the patient for more than 6 weeks duration. The prevalence of CU varies from 0.5-5% in adult population. This is a disease of complex etiologies with more areas to be explored by researches. The aim of the study was to detect the Prevalence of allergen sensitizations among adult chronic urticaria patients without other allergic diseases. This study is a cross-sectional case control study. 70 patients with CU without evident cause and 50 healthy control individuals were included in the study. Patients with any other allergic diseases (such as Asthma, allergic Rhinitis, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Drug Allergy, atopic Dermatitis, Anaphylaxis….), patients with other chronic or systemic Diseases (such as Cardiac, respiratory, renal, hepatic, hematological, thyroid or other skin Diseases, etc….) and smokers were excluded from the study. Each patient and control individual was subjected to full medical history, complete medical examination and routine lab test. Determination of allergen-specific IgE (for 20 separate food and 20 aeroallergens) in serum for the patients was done by using EUROLINE Atopy Screen. Each of the patients and control groups were comparable according to age and gender. There was a significant difference between the CU patients and the control group as regard the prevalence of any allergen sensitization (65.7% for CU patients and 18% in control group) p<0.05. There was also a significant difference between the sensitized individual in each group as regard the number of allergens per each individual; for sensitized CU patients the mean was 3 allergens and interquartile range was (2-4), for the sensitized control individuals the mean was 2 and interquartile range was (1-2) with p= 0.014. The mostly frequent allergens were found in the CU sensitized patients was the house dust mite allergens (34.8% of the sensitized CU patients were sensitized to one or more of the two types of mites; dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and or dermatophagoides farinae). The study concluded that; a great prevalence of CU patients proved to be sensitized to common allergens which open the door to start a trials to examine the value of environmental control, food avoidance and specific allergen immunotherapy in this group of patients.

Allergen Sensitization Patterns in Atopic Children in Mersin Province of Turkey

Objective: The spectrum of allergen sensitization differs widely between countries and also regions within the same country. The aim of this study was to investigate the allergen sensitization patterns of atopic children who presented to our allergy clinic. Materials and Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed all children who presented to our clinic with a suspicion of allergic diseases and had at least one allergen sensitization between January 2014 and January 2017. Clinical diagnosis and atopy markers such as total IgE, serum eosinophil counts, skin prick test (SPT), food and inhalant specific IgE results were evaluated. Results: A total of 1307 patients were evaluated. The mean age of the children was 9.0±4.4 years and 61.9% were male. Allergic rhinitis was the most common diagnosis with a frequency of 38.9%, followed by asthma (32.9%), urticaria (15.9%) and atopic dermatitis (5.4%). Food mix specific IgE (fx5) positivity was present in 27.6% of patients. The rate of SPT positivity for food allergens was 8.3%. Eggs (4.4%), cow’s milk (2.3%) and peanut (1.7%) were found to be the most common food allergens in SPT. Inhalant specific IgE (phadiatop) positivity was present in 83.0% of the patients. The most common aeroallergens in SPT were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (67.9%), Dermatophagoides farinae (67.2%), Alternaria alternata (19.4%) and grass mix (17.7%). Polysensitization was found in 39.5% of the patients. One hundred and eighty seven (14.3%) patients had a negative phadiatop but positive SPT to inhalants. Among them, the most frequent allergens detected in SPT were mites (20.8%), Alternaria alternata (20.3%) and cockroach (11.8%). Among those with Alternaria monosensitization, the serum phadiatop test was negative in 50.8%. Conclusion: The distribution of allergen sensitizations in atopic children in Mersin province is reported for the first time. Alternaria alternata has emerged as a very important allergen that may be often missed in phadiatop testing.

Etiology of Allergic Contact Dermatitis based on Patch Test

Background : Allergic contact dermatitis is a type of contact dermatitis, whose prevalence tends to increase every year. Patch test is an important diagnostic test to confirm the disease. The result of patch test can help doctors to perform appropriate treatment. The aim of the study was to identify the most frequent allergen causing allergic contact dermatitis based on patch test results. Methods : This was a descriptive retrospective study among patients who underwent patch test at the Dermatology and Venereology Clinic in Dr.Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, Indonesia from August 1st, 2014 to August 31st, 2015. The patch test result was obtained from the patient’s medical record and recapitulation data. The patient’s medical record would be collected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study also collected demographic data of the patients, including age, sex, and occupation.The collected data were presented using tables. Results : Out of 45 patient’s medical records, 19 patients were male (42.2%) and 26 patients were female (57.8%). Nickel sulphate was the most frequent allergen with 17 sensitization. Thirteen out of 17 patients who were sensitized by nickel sulphate were females. A great majority of the patients were in the age group of 15–44 years. Most of the patients were students (42.2%). Allergic contact dermatitis (64.4%) was the main clinical diagnosis among the patients. Conclusions : The most frequent allergen causes allergic contact dermatitis is nickel sulphate.

Çocuklarda Atopik Dermatit: Ne Kadar Atopik?

Objective: One of the many factors that involved with the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is sensitivity to allergens. Food allergy is a known etiological factor and evidence connecting sensitivity to inhalant allergens with atopic dermatitis also keeps increasing. Our study aimed to investigate allergen hypersensitivity together with clinical features and allergic parameters of children with atopic dermatitis who live in Istanbul. Materials and Methods: A total of 826 children aged 2-18 years who had been followed-up with an AD diagnosis at the Istanbul University Medical School’s Allergy and Immunology Department between January 2010 and December 2013 were included in our study. Age, gender, atopy history in the family, serum levels of total IgE, presence of additional allergic disease, eosinophil percentage in total blood count and the results of skin prick tests were recorded for these patients. Results: Among the patients included in the study, 41.2% (n:340) were female and 58.8% (n=486) were male, and the mean age was 6.48±3.50 years. Atopic children made up 80% and non-atopic children 20% of the patient population. Patients whose Ig E level was >100 were found to be more sensitive to allergens (p<0.001). As age increased, sensitivity to allergens also increased (p<0.001). Accompanying respiratory allergic diseases were not found to be related with sensitivity to allergens (p=0.07). The most frequent allergens in this study were house dust mite, sweet vernal grass, and cynodon dactylon. Conclusion: We found that 80% of the children with atopic dermatitis who lived in Istanbul were atopic and the most frequent allergen we came across was house dust mite. When dealing with AD patients who are resistant to therapy, house dust mite allergy should be considered and relevant precautions may be clinically useful.