Molecular Allergy Diagnosis Research Articles

Experience of Molecular Allergy Diagnosis in Kyrgyzstan

Spectrum of allergenic sensitization in children of the Kyrgyz Republic using a modern molecular allergy test — ALEX. The study was conducted on 45 patients seeking medical help. Based on the results of the data obtained, we can conclude that molecular diagnostics make it possible to distinguish with high accuracy between true and cross-reactivity, which has significant clinical significance for adequate diagnosis of a wide range of sensitization to allergens and an informed choice of pathogenetic therapy.

Selected Technical Aspects of Molecular Allergy Diagnostics.

Diagnosis of allergic diseases is a complex, multi-stage process. It often requires the use of various diagnostic tools. The in vitro diagnostics (IVD), which includes various laboratory tests, is one of the stages of this process. Standard laboratory tests include the measurement of the serum concentration of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) for selected allergens, full allergen extracts and/or single allergen components (molecules). The measurement of IgE sIgE to the allergen components is called molecular allergy diagnosis. During the standard laboratory diagnostic process, various models of immunochemical tests are used, which enable the measurement of sIgE for single allergens (one-parameter tests, singleplex) or IgE specific for many different allergens (multi-parameter tests, multiplex) in one test. Currently, there are many different test kits available, validated for IVD, which differ in the method type and allergen profile. The aim of the manuscript is to present various technical aspects related to modern allergy diagnostics, especially in the area of molecular allergy diagnostics.

Molecular allergy diagnosis is sensitive and avoids misdiagnosis in patients sensitized to seasonal allergens.

The specificity of extract-based pollen allergy diagnosis is decreased due to cross-reactivity via cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) or panallergens such as profilins or polcalcins. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of sensitization to seasonal extracts, CCDs, profilin and polcalcin and investigate the sensitivity and specificity of seasonal molecular allergy diagnosis (MAD) using commercially available test methods. 2948 patients were screened for specific immunoglobulin E to ash, birch, mugwort, ragweed and timothy grass pollen extracts and grouped according to the number of positive tests (1-5). 100 patients from each group and a control group were randomly selected to calculate the prevalence of CCD and panallergen sensitization. With 742 patients, sensitivity and specificity of MAD (Alt a 1, Fra/Ole e 1, Bet v 1, Phl p 1, Art v 1, and Amb a 1) was determined. 1627 patients (55.2%) were positive to at least one, and 1002 patients (34.0%) were positive to multiple of the five pollen allergens investigated; 18.5% of the pollen-sensitized patients had sensitization to CCDs or panallergens. Specifically, sensitization to CCDs, profilins, and polcalcins was observed in 8.7%, 10.9%, and 2.9% of these patients, respectively. The sensitivity of MAD was high, with sensitivities between 96.2% and 100% using ImmunoCAP and 91.5% and 100% using ALEX2 . Specificity was 100% for both assays. Due to cross-reactivity, about one-fifth of pollen-sensitized patients is at risk of misdiagnosis. However, MAD is sensitive, specific and helps to avoid misdiagnosis and select primary allergen sources for immunotherapy.

Identification of Pollen and Food Sensitization Prevalence in Children with Different Atopic Phenotype Variants (Intermediate Study Results)

Background. Identification of the prevalence of pollen and food allergen molecules sensitization in children (considering regional characteristics) is relevant and crucial for personalized preventive and treatment measures development. Objective. The aim of the study is — study the prevalence of pollen and food allergen sensitization in children with different atopic phenotype variants. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 80 children aged from 4 months to 17 years 8 months with symptoms of allergic rhinitis, food allergy, atopic dermatitis living in the Moscow metropolitan area. All children were sensitized to 9 extracts of domestic, pollen and food allergens via the ImmunoCAP method, and molecular allergy diagnosis was carried out via the ImmunoCAP ISAC technology (n = 79). One patient with symptoms of allergic rhinitis during spring without any manifestations of cross-reactive food allergy received an unreadable result of ImmunoCAP ISAC. Results. The most common sensitization among all patients was to the birch pollen allergen extract — 65%, herd grass — 46%, common mugwort — 32%. The following sensitization to major allergens was most often detected according to molecular diagnosis: birch pollen Bet v 1 — 67%, herd grass Phl p 1 — 33% and Phl p 4 — 24%, and even less mugwort Art v 1 — 11%. The lowest sensitization was to the allergy component Amb a 1 of ambrosia — 8% of cases. Sensitization to wormwood pollen extract was revealed 2.5 times more often than to major components of this allergen. Spring allergic rhinitis was diagnosed in 45 children, and 27 of them had cross-reactive food allergy. Children with allergic rhinitis during the spring period (both with or without complaints on cross-reactive food allergy) most commonly had sensitization to the allergens components of hazelnut Cor a 1.0401 and apple Mal d 1, and least often to the component of the celery allergen Api g 1. Conclusion. Birch pollen is the most common primary allergen in children of the Moscow metropolitan area with allergy. Patients with spring allergic rhinitis despite the presence of cross-reactive food allergy usually have sensitization to the components of hazelnut and apple allergens.

Molecular Allergy Diagnosis in Clinical Practice: Frequently Asked Questions.

Considerable progress has been made in the field of molecular biology in recent years, enabling the study of sensitization to the individual components of an allergenic source, a practice that has been termed molecular allergy diagnosis (MD) or component-resolved diagnosis (CRD). The present review provides the clinician with a practical approach to the use of MD by answering questions frequently asked by physicians on how MD can help improve the diagnosis of allergy in daily clinical practice. The article is divided into 3 sections. First, we provide a brief review of the importance for the clinician of knowing the main allergens in the different allergenic sources, their structure, and their in vitro cross-reactivity before approaching MD (section A). Second, we review the usefulness of MD in clinical practice (section B) and answer frequently asked questions on the subject. Finally, section C addresses the interpretation of MD and its integration with other tools available for the diagnosis of allergy.

Molecular diagnosis contribution for personalized medicine.

The purpose of the current review is to highlight the most recent findings in molecular allergy and its applicability in precision medicine for allergic patients. Molecular allergy provides useful information in areas of respiratory allergy (house dust mites, pet dander and pollen allergy), food allergy (tree nuts, peanuts, fruits and vegetables), hymenoptera venom allergy and others, in order to improve management of patients. Regional differences in sensitization profiles, assay characteristics and interpretation of molecular sensitization in relation to whole extracts and total immunoglobulin E need to be taken into account. Studies of the impact of such strategies are needed. Molecular allergy diagnosis represents a major contribution for personalized medicine. It aids in the assesment of risk prediction, disease severity, genuine/cross-reactive sensitization, and finally to apply precise management strategies.

Fish Allergy Around the World-Precise Diagnosis to Facilitate Patient Management.

The accurate and precise diagnosis of IgE-mediated fish allergy is one of the biggest challenges in allergy diagnostics. A wide range of fish species that belong to evolutionary distant classes are consumed globally. Moreover, each fish species may contain multiple isoforms of a given allergen that often differ in their allergenicity. Recent studies indicated that the cross-reactivity between different fish species is limited in some cases and depends on the evolutionary conservation of the involved allergens. Fish allergens belong to several protein families with different levels of stability to food processing. Additionally, different preparation methods may contribute to specific sensitization patterns to specific fish species and allergens in different geographic regions. Here, we review the challenges and opportunities for improved diagnostic approaches to fish allergy. Current diagnostic shortcomings include the absence of important region-specific fish species in commercial in vitro and in vivo tests as well as the lack of their standardization as has been recently demonstrated for skin prick test solutions. These diagnostic shortcomings may compromise patients' safety by missing some of the relevant species and yielding false negative test results. In contrast, the avoidance of all fish as a common management approach is usually not necessary as many patients may be only sensitized to specific species and allergens. Although food challenges remain the gold standard, other diagnostic approaches are investigated such as the basophil activation test. In the context of molecular allergy diagnosis, we discuss the usefulness of single allergens and raw and heated fish extracts. Recent developments such as allergen microarrays offer the possibility to simultaneously quantify serum IgE specific to multiple allergens and allergen sources. Such multiplex platforms may be used in the future to design diagnostic allergen panels covering evolutionary distant fish species and allergens relevant for particular geographic regions.

From Allergen Molecules to Molecular Immunotherapy of Nut Allergy: A Hard Nut to Crack

Peanuts and tree nuts are two of the most common elicitors of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy. Nut allergy is frequently associated with systemic reactions and can lead to potentially life-threatening respiratory and circulatory symptoms. Furthermore, nut allergy usually persists throughout life. Whether sensitized patients exhibit severe and life-threatening reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis), mild and/or local reactions (e.g., pollen-food allergy syndrome) or no relevant symptoms depends much on IgE recognition of digestion-resistant class I food allergens, IgE cross-reactivity of class II food allergens with respiratory allergens and clinically not relevant plant-derived carbohydrate epitopes, respectively. Accordingly, molecular allergy diagnosis based on the measurement of allergen-specific IgE levels to allergen molecules provides important information in addition to provocation testing in the diagnosis of food allergy. Molecular allergy diagnosis helps identifying the genuinely sensitizing nuts, it determines IgE sensitization to class I and II food allergen molecules and hence provides a basis for personalized forms of treatment such as precise prescription of diet and allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). Currently available forms of nut-specific AIT are based only on allergen extracts, have been mainly developed for peanut but not for other nuts and, unlike AIT for respiratory allergies which utilize often subcutaneous administration, are given preferentially by the oral route. Here we review prevalence of allergy to peanut and tree nuts in different populations of the world, summarize knowledge regarding the involved nut allergen molecules and current AIT approaches for nut allergy. We argue that nut-specific AIT may benefit from molecular subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) approaches but identify also possible hurdles for such an approach and explain why molecular SCIT may be a hard nut to crack.

The Molecular Allergen Recognition Profile in China as Basis for Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy.

Approximately 30% of the world population suffers from immunoglobulin-E (IgE)-mediated allergy. IgE-mediated allergy affects the respiratory tract, the skin and the gastrointestinal tract and may lead to life-threatening acute systemic manifestations such as anaphylactic shock. The symptoms of allergy are mediated by IgE-recognition of causative allergen molecules from different allergen sources. Today, molecular allergy diagnosis allows determining the disease-causing allergens to develop allergen-specific concepts for prevention and treatment of allergy. Allergen-specific preventive and therapeutic strategies include allergen avoidance, vaccination, and tolerance induction. The implementation of these preventive and therapeutic strategies requires a detailed knowledge of the relevant allergen molecules affecting a given population. China is the world´s most populous country with around 1.4 billion inhabitants and an estimated number of more than 400 million allergic patients. Research in allergy in China has dramatically increased in the last decade. We summarize in this review article what is known about the dominating allergen sources and allergen molecules in China and what further investigations could be performed to draw a molecular map of IgE sensitization for China as a basis for the implementation of systematic and rational allergen-specific preventive and therapeutic strategies to combat allergic diseases in this country.

Microarray-Based Allergy Diagnosis: Quo Vadis?

More than 30% of the world population suffers from allergy. Allergic individuals are characterized by the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against innocuous environmental allergens. Upon allergen recognition IgE mediates allergen-specific immediate and late-phase allergic inflammation in different organs. The identification of the disease-causing allergens by demonstrating the presence of allergen-specific IgE is the key to precision medicine in allergy because it allows tailoring different forms of prevention and treatment according to the sensitization profiles of individual allergic patients. More than 30 years ago molecular cloning started to accelerate the identification of the disease-causing allergen molecules and enabled their production as recombinant molecules. Based on recombinant allergen molecules, molecular allergy diagnosis was introduced into clinical practice and allowed dissecting the molecular sensitization profiles of allergic patients. In 2002 it was demonstrated that microarray technology allows assembling large numbers of allergen molecules on chips for the rapid serological testing of IgE sensitizations with small volumes of serum. Since then microarrayed allergens have revolutionized research and diagnosis in allergy, but several unmet needs remain. Here we show that detection of IgE- and IgG-reactivity to a panel of respiratory allergens microarrayed onto silicon elements is more sensitive than glass-based chips. We discuss the advantages of silicon-based allergen microarrays and how this technology will allow addressing hitherto unmet needs in microarray-based allergy diagnosis. Importantly, it described how the assembly of silicon microarray elements may create different microarray formats for suiting different diagnostic applications such as quick testing of single patients, medium scale testing and fully automated large scale testing.

Molecular allergy diagnosis using pollen marker allergens and pollen panallergens: Five patterns seen in multiple test reactions topollen extracts.

Polysensitizations to tree, grass, and weed pollen are found in ~ 20% of pollen-allergic individuals. They are often based on broad IgE cross-reactivities to pollen panallergens belonging to highly conserved protein families: 1. profilins, 2. polcalcins (calcium-binding proteins in pollen), 3. cyclophilins. They represent highly conserved cross-reactive minor allergens present in all pollen species, but also in plant foods and other organisms. Despite being rarely clinically relevant they can hamper allergy diagnostic tests with extracts. In this situation, molecular allergy diagnosis is able to distinguish broad cross-reactivity due to allergen-specific IgE to pollen panallergens (i.e. profilins Bet v 2 or Phl p 12; polcalcins Bet v 4 or Phl p 7; and, in the future, cyclophilins Bet v 7 or Ole e 15) from primary IgE sensitizations to so-called marker allergens represented by important pollen major allergens: Bet v 1 for the birch and beech family (Fagales), Ole e 1 for olive and ash (Oleaceae), Phl p 1 for temperate climate grasses (Poaceae), Art v 1 for mugwort (Artemisia), Amb a 1 for Ambrosia species (Ambrosia). Five typical cases (A – E) with positive skin prick test results to tree, grass, and weed pollen extracts demonstrate typical patterns of IgE sensitization with a variable impact of pollen panallergens: A – profilins, B – polcalcins, C – profilins and polcalcins, D – presumably cyclophilins, E – primary polysensitization to tree, grass, and weed pollen without interference from profilins or polcalcins. Differences between pollen extract-based skin prick test diagnosis and molecular allergen-specific IgE testing are explained using the presented concept. This approach allows to reduce the number of allergen extracts – presuming they are also clinically relevant – for allergen immunotherapy (i.e., only tree and/or grass pollen extracts), particularly in pollen-polysensitized patients.

Molecular diagnosis approach in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disease that occurs in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis who have positive skin tests for immediate hypersensitivity against Aspergillus fumigatus, and elevated levels of serum IgE and IgG antibodies against fungal‑specific antigen,​​ determined by fluoroimmunoenzymatic assay. In this review, we present the diagnostic criteria for ABPA revised in the last decade by several expert groups. The officially recognized molecular allergens of Aspergillus fumigatus used in commercially available singleplex and multiplex immunoassays for the determination of serum specific IgE are mitogillin Asp f 1 from ribonuclease family, fibrinogen binding-protein Asp f 2, peroxisomal membrane protein Asp f 3, group 4 fungal allergen Asp f 4, and Mn superoxide dismutase Asp f 6. The detailed evaluation of IgE sensitization molecular profiles, using the panel of recombinant allergenic components of Aspergillus fumigatus, is useful in clinical practice to identify genuine versus cross-reactive sensitization in patients sensitized to Aspergillus fumigatus, including patients with comorbid atopic dermatitis and sensitization to other fungi with cross-reactive allergenic components, for an accurate molecular allergy diagnosis of ABPA, and to distinguish ABPA from asthma with Aspergillus fumigatus sensitization without ABPA.

Novel vaccines for allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Purpose of reviewAllergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is a highly economic, effective and disease-modifying form of allergy treatment but requires accurate prescription and monitoring. New molecular approaches are currently under development to improve AIT by reducing treatment-related side effects, cumbersome protocols and patients’ compliance. We review the current advances regarding refined diagnosis for prescription and monitoring of AIT and the development of novel molecular vaccines for AIT. Finally, we discuss prophylactic application of AIT.Recent findingsThere is evidence that molecular allergy diagnosis not only assists in the prescription and monitoring of AIT but also allows a refined selection of patients to increase the likelihood of treatment success. New data regarding the effects of AIT treatment with traditional allergen extracts by alternative routes have become available. Experimental approaches for AIT, such as virus-like particles and cell-based treatments have been described. New results from clinical trials performed with recombinant hypoallergens and passive immunization with allergen-specific antibodies highlight the importance of allergen-specific IgG antibodies for the effect of AIT and indicate opportunities for preventive allergen-specific vaccination.SummaryMolecular allergy diagnosis is useful for the prescription and monitoring of AIT and may improve the success of AIT. Results with molecular allergy vaccines and by passive immunization with allergen-specific IgG antibodies indicate the importance of allergen-specific IgG capable of blocking allergen recognition by IgE and IgE-mediated allergic inflammation as important mechanism for the success of AIT. New molecular vaccines may pave the road towards prophylactic allergen-specific vaccination.

Molecular allergodiagnostics capabilities in determining the indications for allergen-specific immunotherapy with house dust mites allergen and its effectiveness in atopic dermatitis patients

BACKGROUND:Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread chronic inflammatory skin disease, in the development of which complex genetic and immune mechanisms, environmental factors, allergens, are involved. An effective method of treating IgE-mediated allergic diseases is allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), which affects all pathogenetically significant links of the allergic process. It is known that as a result of ASIT tissue sensitivity to an allergen, nonspecific tissue hyperreactivity and the intensity of allergic inflammation decrease, which testifies to the rearrangement of the cellular response from Th2 to Th1 with a corresponding change in the cytokine profile. Currently, dozens of scientific papers on the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous and sublingual ASIT in AD have been published; however, the question of the advisability of its appointment still remains unresolved.
 AIM:To investigate the ASIT with house dust mite (HDM) allergens efficacy in AD patients, considering the results of molecular allergy diagnosis.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study was conducted as a prospective comparative open study, including 32 patients with AD (20 children and 12 adults), 90.6% were diagnosed with concomitant respiratory allergic diseases. Molecular allergodiagnostics was performed using microchip technology with purified natural or recombinant allergen components immobilized in the solid phase (Immuno-Solid phase Allergen Chip, ISAC) to quantify allergen-specific IgE (asIgE) against 112 allergen molecules from 51 allergen sources in one study (ImmunoCAP ISAC (Thermofisher, Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). Patients were divided into two groups depending on the profile of molecular sensitization: with the presence or absence of asIgE to the major allergens ofD. farinaeand/orD. pteronyssinusDer p 1 (p 2) and/or Der f 1 (f 2). All patients passed three consecutive courses of subcutaneous ASIT with water-salted HDM allergens produced by I.I. Mechnikov Biomed (Russia) under an accelerated scheme for 3 years. To assess the severity of the disease, the SCORAD indices, the Investigators Global Assessment (IGA), and the dermatological quality of life index (DLQI) were used.
 RESULTS:Patients with sensitization to major allergens ofD. farinaeand/orD. pteronyssinusDer p 1 (f 1) and/or Der p 2 (f 2) more often achieved a significant improvement of AD symptoms according to the SCORAD index (OR 3.929, 95% CI: 0.879; 17.56), as well as they more often achieved IGA values of 1 or 0 after three courses of ASIT (OR 3.556, CI 95% 0.73017.324) and more often assessed the effectiveness of ASIT as excellent and good in comparison with patients without sensitization to these components. The median and interquartile range of the DLQI index before treatment in group 1 was 17 [14; 20] points, in group 2 14 [12; 18], after the 3rdcourse of ASIT: 6 [2; 10] and 8 [3; 10] points in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Adverse events were rare, their frequency did not significantly differ in both groups.
 CONCLUSION:ASIT with HDM allergens is an effective and safe method of treatment of AD patients. Determination of the molecular spectrum of sensitization to HDM allergens components allows to justify the indications and predict the effectiveness of ASIT.

Identification of Pru du 6 as a potential marker allergen for almond allergy.

BackgroundOral food challenges have demonstrated that diagnosis of almond allergy based on extract‐sIgE tests displays low specificity. Molecular allergy diagnosis is expected to improve accuracy, but its value in diagnosing almond allergy remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify relevant almond allergens and examine their ability to improve almond allergy diagnosis.MethodsIgE‐reactive proteins were purified from almond kernels. IgE binding to almond extract and the allergens was analyzed by quantitative ELISA using sera from 18 subjects with a proven almond allergy. The control group consisted of sera from 18 subjects allergic to peanut and/or tree nuts but tolerant to almond.ResultsThree IgE‐binding proteins were identified: legumin (Pru du 6), alpha‐hairpinin (Pru du 8), and mandelonitrile lyase (Pru du 10). Positive IgE (≥0.35 kU/L) to almond extract showed 94% sensitivity but only 33% specificity. IgE to Pru du 6 maintained high sensitivity (83%) and provided superior specificity (78%). Sera from almond‐allergic subjects had significantly higher IgE levels to almond extract (P < .0001) and Pru du 6 (P < .0001) than sera from tolerant donors. Sensitization to Pru du 6 was highly specific for almond allergy, while frequencies of sensitization to legumins from peanut, walnut, hazelnut, and cashew were similar in both groups. IgE to Pru du 8 and Pru du 10 was less sensitive (41% and 67%), but showed specificities of 100% and 61%.ConclusionThe use of almond allergens markedly increases the diagnostic specificity compared to the extract. Pru du 6 is a potential new molecular marker for almond allergy.

Molecular IgE sensitization profiles of urban and rural children in South Africa.

Allergens can act as disease-triggering factors in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. The aim of the study was to elucidate the molecular IgE sensitization profile in children with and without AD living in urban and rural areas of South Africa. Specific IgE reactivity was assessed in 166 Black South African children aged 9-38months using a comprehensive panel of microarrayed allergens. According to clinical characterization children fell in four groups, urban AD cases (n=32), urban controls (non-AD, n=40), rural cases (n=49) and rural controls (non-AD, n=45). IgE reactivity to at least one of the allergens was detected in 94% of urban and 86% of rural AD children. House dust mite (HDM; 81% urban, 74% rural AD) and animal-derived allergens (50% urban, 31% rural AD) were the most frequently recognized respiratory allergens, whereas IgE to pollen allergens was almost absent. Urban AD children showed significantly higher frequency of IgE reactivity (50%) to mouse lipocalin, Mus m 1, than rural AD children (12%). The most frequently recognized food allergens were from egg (63% urban, 43% rural AD), peanut (31% vs 41%), and soybean (22% vs 27%), whereas milk sensitization was rare. α-gal-specific IgE almost exclusively occurred in rural children (AD: 14%, non-AD: 49%). Molecular allergy diagnosis detects frequent IgE sensitization to HDM, animal but not pollen allergens and to egg, peanut, and soy, but not milk allergens in African AD children. Urban AD children reacted more often to Mus m 1, whereas α-gal sensitization is more common in rural children likely due to parasite exposure.

Allergen Components from Foods Declarable as Allergen Sources in The EU Available in Multiplex Immunoassays

Molecular allergy diagnosis in food allergies is a modern approach utilized to characterize the molecular components of food allergens from the point of view of specific IgE-mediated immune responses. In the clinical practice, it can improve diagnosis accuracy and may assist the allergist in many aspects of the specialty work-up. Modern multiplex immunoassay methods used for the detection of serum specific IgE against food allergen components are the immuno solid-phase allergen chip microarray, patient-friendly allergen nano-bead array and macroarray nanotechnology-based immunoassay as a new generation molecular allergy explorer. It is important to know the allergenic molecules available for multiplex diagnosis immunoassays from food sources which must be declared as containing food allergens in the European Union (EU).

Passport of sensitization of schoolchildren as a tool for the prevention of asthma

Molecular allergy diagnosis allows to identify sensitization to a large range of respiratory allergens, which is important in the diagnosis of allergic asthma. Moreover, based on the reactive IgE profile detected at an early age, it is possible to predict the development of allergic respiratory diseases even at the preclinical stage. The goal of the pilot project was to create a children's passport sensitization using a multiplex panel to be able to identify groups at risk for the development of asthma in children of early school age. Materials and methods. Parents of 33 students studying in the second grade of the Tashkent gymnasium were questioned using the ISAAC questionnaire for the clinical manifestations of respiratory diseases in their children. Their children’s sera were tested for the presence of IgE to various allergenic molecules using the MeDALL research method. Results. 30% of children were sensitized to at least one allergen, and 30% of them were born by Caesarean section. and 30% of them were born by Caesarean section. In total, 68 of the 176 allergenic molecules located on the MeDALL microchip were recognized. 80% of sensitized children had a genuine polysensitization to 3 or more major allergens. In 18% of children, IgE to household molecules of the risk of developing asthma, such as Alt a 1, Bla g 1, Bla g 2, Can f 1, Fel d 1, were detected. Conclusions. In general, clinical manifestations in the form of wheezing and obstruction were detected in 60% of sensitized children, but only 40% of these children were under the supervision of an allergist or received symptomatic treatment. In 20% of already sensitized children, clinical symptoms were absent. Molecular testing of the profile of IgE sensitization and the creation of an allergic passport allows us to identify a group of children at risk for developing asthma. This information can be used to assign therapy and secondary prevention of asthma in the early school years.

The Use of Molecular Allergy Diagnosis in Anaphylaxis: a Literature Review

Anaphylaxis can be caused mainly by drugs, foods, and hymenoptera or it can be idiopathic, when no cause is identified. The identification of the cause(s) of an anaphylactic reaction can be made by using both top-down (i.e., from patients’ history to MAD) and bottom-up (from MAD screening to the patients’ characterization) strategies. Independently from the strategy, the patients’ history, skin prick test, second, third, and fourth level in vitro serum or cellular assays, and in vivo challenge tests are mandatory. The diagnosis is based on the results of these tests used at best. Third level specific IgE assays, based on the use of molecular allergens, allow a very accurate description of the specific IgE profile of the patient, resulting in a significant support in the identification of the trigger of the anaphylactic reaction. In recent years, this third level has been empowered by the availability of allergen arrays that allow screening a large number of molecular allergens in a single test. In this paper, we analyze the recent scientific literature on this topic, showing that molecular allergy diagnosis does not seem to be yet a standard procedure in the identification of the cause of anaphylaxis.

Clinical outcomes related to molecular allergy diagnosis.

Aim of this review is the description of the medical conditions in which the support of molecular allergy diagnostics (MAD) has an impact on the clinical outcomes, such as laboratory diagnostics, prognosis, and therapy of allergic diseases. The review of the literature of the last 2 years generated a wide number of results on this topic. As expected, not all were obtained by the use of MAD, but, in general, a clear trend is evident. Within the large number of works available, laboratory allergy diagnostics seems to be the most frequently discussed topic, in particular considering the complexity of the biological environment where these assays are used. Some interesting news arrive from the prognostic potential of MAD, whereas for allergen immunotherapy, waiting for a well-conducted prospective randomized clinical study, data from retrospective studies still confirms the added values of MAD in the management of the allergic patients.