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Serum Total IgE (serum + total_ige)
Selected AbstractsIndications of ,atopic bowel' in patients with self-reported food hypersensitivityALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 10 2010K. LILLESTØL Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 1112,1122 Summary Background, An association between atopic disease and gastrointestinal complaints has been suggested. Aim, To explore the association between atopic disease, gastrointestinal symptoms, and possible gastrointestinal manifestations of atopic disease in patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity. Methods, Symptoms, skin prick tests, serum markers of allergy and intestinal permeability were recorded in 71 adult patients. Eosinophils, tryptase- and IgE-positive cells were counted in duodenal biopsies. Results, Sixty-six (93%) patients had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 43 (61%) had atopic disease, predominantly rhinoconjunctivitis. All 43 were sensitized to inhalant allergens, 29 (41%) to food allergens, but food challenges were negative. Serum total IgE and duodenal IgE-positive cell counts were significantly correlated (P < 0.0001) and both were significantly higher in atopic than in non-atopic patients (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.003 respectively). IgE-positive cells appeared to be ,armed' mast cells. Intestinal permeability was significantly elevated in atopic compared with non-atopic patients (P = 0.02). Gastrointestinal symptoms and numbers of tryptase-positive mast cells and eosinophils did not differ between groups. Conclusions, Patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity had a high prevalence of IBS and atopic disease. Atopic patients had increased intestinal permeability and density of IgE-bearing cells compared with non-atopic patients, but gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ between groups. [source] Prevalence of latex sensitization and allergy in Portuguese childrenPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Arminda Jorge The prevalence of latex allergy has been increasing not only in risk groups but also in the general population, where it is accepted to average 1%. In children, latex sensitization prevalence studies are scarce and involve different population sampling and allergy testing methods, which makes it difficult to compare across studies. Nevertheless, existing studies point towards a low prevalence of latex allergy in children, which still needs to be confirmed in the Portuguese population. Aiming at studying the prevalence of latex sensitization and allergy in a sample of Portuguese children, we studied 182 children from two different hospital outpatient clinics. A standardized questionnaire focusing on atopic background, previous history and allergic signs or symptoms on exposure to latex or fruits was given to all children and parents. Skin prick testing was performed with a battery of common aeroallergens as well as latex. Serum total IgE, Phadiatop, F × 5E and latex-specific IgE were determined in all children. Specific IgE to latex-crossreacting fruits was determined in latex-sensitized children. Based upon the questionnaire, the prevalence of latex allergy would be 0.5%. The prevalence of latex sensitization would be 3.8%, when based solely upon skin prick testing, and 12.1% (,0.35 IU/ml) or 6.6% (,0.70 IU/ml) when based singly upon determination of latex-specific IgE. When positive results for either test were considered, the prevalence of latex sensitization was 14.3%. All latex-sensitized children were atopic. Sensitivity to latex-crossreacting foodstuffs was demonstrated in 61.5% of latex-sensitized children (16/26). This study shows that the prevalence of latex allergy and sensitization in Portuguese atopic and non-atopic children, as analysed using various diagnostic methods, is similar to that observed in other countries. In addition, the assessment of latex allergy and sensitization should always include skin prick testing and determination of serum IgE. [source] International variations in associations of allergic markers and diseases in children: ISAAC Phase TwoALLERGY, Issue 6 2010G. Weinmayr To cite this article: Weinmayr G, Genuneit J, Nagel G, Björkstén B, van Hage M, Priftanji A, Cooper P, Rijkjärv M-A, von Mutius E, Tsanakas J, Forastiere F, Doekes G, Garrido JB, Suarez-Varela MM, Bråbäck L, Strachan DP, the ISAAC Phase Two Study Group. International variations in associations of allergic markers and diseases in children: ISAAC Phase Two. Allergy 2010; 65: 766,775. Abstract Background:, Circulating allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) and skin prick tests (SPT) are used to define atopy. Downregulation of local inflammatory responsiveness has been proposed to explain a low prevalence of positive SPTs in less affluent countries. We analysed the association between SPTs, total and allergen-specific IgE and their relationships to allergic symptoms in centres with diverse living conditions. Methods:, Cross-sectional studies of stratified random samples of 8 to 12-year-old children (n = 7461) used the standardized methodology of Phase Two of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and eczema were ascertained by parental questionnaires. Skin examination, hypertonic saline bronchial challenge, six aeroallergen SPTs and measurements of serum total IgE and sIgE were performed. Results:, In nonaffluent countries, a higher proportion of children with positive SPT had no detectable sIgE (range 37,61%) than in affluent countries (0,37%). Total serum IgE was associated with all disease outcomes among children with both positive SPT and sIgE (P < 0.001), but only with self-reported eczema in children with negative SPTs and negative sIgE. Conclusions:, The international pattern of discordance between SPT and sIgE results did not support the downregulation hypothesis. Among children with no evidence of sensitization to common aeroallergens, increased total IgE contributes little to the risk of wheeze and rhinitis in the general population but may play a role in eczema. [source] A quantitative genetic analysis of intermediate asthma phenotypesALLERGY, Issue 3 2009S. F. Thomsen Aim:, To study the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the correlation between exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), airway responsiveness, airway obstruction, and serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE). Methods:, Within a sampling frame of 21 162 twin subjects, 20,49 years of age, from the Danish Twin Registry, a total of 575 subjects (256 intact pairs and 63 single twins) who either themselves and/or their co-twins reported a history of asthma at a nationwide questionnaire survey, were clinically examined. Traits were measured using standard techniques. Latent factor models were fitted to the observed data using maximum likelihood methods. Results:, Additive genetic factors explained 67% of the variation in FeNO, 43% in airway responsiveness, 22% in airway obstruction, and 81% in serum total IgE. In general, traits had genetically and environmentally distinct variance structures. The most substantial genetic similarity was observed between FeNO and serum total IgE, genetic correlation (,A) = 0.37, whereas the strongest environmental resemblance was observed between airway responsiveness and airway obstruction, specific environmental correlation (,E) = ,0.46, and between FeNO and airway responsiveness, ,E = 0.34. Conclusions:, Asthma is a complex disease characterized by a set of etiologically heterogeneous biomarkers, which likely constitute diverse targets of intervention. [source] Relationship between adipokines and manifestations of childhood asthmaPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Kyung W. Kim Although the prevalences of asthma and obesity are increasing substantially in recent decades, very little is known about the possible association between them. We evaluated the roles of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, which are adipokines produced by adipose tissue, on childhood asthma, and their association with pulmonary function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We studied 149 atopic asthmatic children, 37 non-atopic asthmatic children, and 54 healthy children. Body mass index was calculated using height and weight, which were measured on the same day that pulmonary function tests and methacholine challenge tests were performed. Skin prick tests were performed, and total eosinophil count, total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), serum eosinophil cationic protein, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were measured in all subjects. Atopic asthmatics had lower resistin levels compared with non-atopic asthma and control groups, but leptin and adiponectin did not show any difference among these three groups. Resistin demonstrated positive correlation with methacholine PC20 and negative correlations with eosinophil count and serum total IgE. Leptin and adiponectin showed associations with forced expiratory volume in 1 s or forced expiratory flow between 25,75%. Multiple regression analysis revealed that resistin was a significant predictive factor for asthma. There was no direct association between asthma and leptin or adiponectin. Our findings suggest that resistin may play a negative predictive role in asthma. Adiponectin and leptin showed close associations with pulmonary function and may have disease-modifying effects in children with asthma. [source] Frequent IgE sensitization to latex, cow's milk, and egg in children with short bowel syndromePEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Angel Mazon Children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) undergo frequent operations, so they are at risk for sensitizing to latex. There have been isolated reports of sensitization to food in these children. In a cross-sectional study, we assessed sensitization to latex, cow's milk, and egg with skin prick tests (SPT) and serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in 14 children with SBS. Data were collected about the number of operations with latex devices, serum total IgE, and history of feeding with milk formula. Ten children were sensitized to latex (specific IgE median: 6.7 kU/l, range: 0.5,33). Compared with those non-sensitized, sensitized children had significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of serum total IgE in z-units (mean rank 3.25 vs. 9.2, respectively), and more operations with latex devices (mean rank 3.75 vs. 9). Eight children were sensitized to cow's milk, one with only positive SPT, the other seven with serum-specific IgE (median: 3.5, range: 0.5,21.1 kU/l), and five to egg (specific IgE median: 0.68, range: 0.58,2.17 kU/l). Except for some isolated days with cow's milk formula, the children had been initially fed with a diet without intact cow's milk proteins. Sensitization to latex, cow's milk, and egg is very frequent in children with SBS. They should be treated in a latex-free environment since the very early stages of the disease, and should be routinely studied regarding food sensitization, as this might contribute as an added factor in the chronic diarrhea of these patients. [source] Blackcurrant seed oil for prevention of atopic dermatitis in newborns: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 8 2010P. Linnamaa Summary Background The present increased incidence of atopic diseases has been associated with an altered intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs). The composition of blackcurrant seed oil (BCSO) corresponds to the recommended dietary intake of EFAs, and as a dietary supplement could, in small doses, modify the imbalance of EFAs in an efficient way. Objective To assess the effect of dietary supplementation with BCSO on the prevalence of atopy at 12 months of age. Methods Three hundred and thirteen pregnant mothers were randomly assigned to receive BCSO (151) or olive oil as placebo (162). The first doses were administered at 8th,16th weeks of pregnancy and were continued until the cessation of breastfeeding, followed by supplementation to the infants until the age of 2 years. Atopic dermatitis and its severity (SCORAD index) were evaluated, serum total IgE was measured and skin tests were performed at the age of 3, 12 and 24 months. Results Parental atopy was common (81.7%) among study subjects, making them infants with increased atopy risk. There was a significantly lower prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the BCSO group than in the olive oil group at the age of 12 months (33.0% vs. 47.3%, P=0.035). SCORAD was also lower in the BCSO group than in the olive oil group at 12 months of age (P=0.035). No significant differences in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis were observed between the groups at the age of 24 months (P=0.18). Conclusion Dietary supplementation with BCSO was well tolerated and it transiently reduced the prevalence of atopic dermatitis. It could therefore be one potential tool in the prevention of atopic symptoms when used at an early stage of life. (Registration number SRCTN14869647, http://www.controlled-trials.com) Cite this as: P. Linnamaa, J. Savolainen, L. Koulu, S. Tuomasjukka, H. Kallio, B. Yang, T. Vahlberg and R. Tahvonen, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1247,1255. [source] Serum metalloproteinase leukolysin (MMP-25/MT-6): a potential metabolic marker for atopy-associated inflammationCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 6 2010M. N. Blumenthal Summary Background Leukolysin is a novel matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-25/MT-6) released mainly by granulocytic cells, primarily neutrophils, which are implicated in chronic airways inflammation. Objective To determine if leukolysin might be a serum marker for atopic asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Three study populations were evaluated: (1) nuclear families with medical history of atopic asthma (N=337), (2) married-in individuals from an independent study of asthma genetics (N=122) and (3) randomly selected males with diagnosis of COPD (N=100). Each person was screened for asthma or COPD symptoms, respiratory function by standardized spirometry and serum total IgE and leukolysin and anti-IL1 levels by immunoassay. Study groups (1 and 2) were also screened by skin prick test using a battery of 14 common aeroallergens. Heritability estimates for leukolysin and total IgE were made by variance components analysis. Results For those without asthma or who had asthma defined as having symptoms, a physician's diagnosis and bronchial hyper-reactivity as demonstrated by reversibility in response to albuteral and/or bronchial reactivity as measured by a methacholine challenge, serum leukolysin levels were found to be higher for those with any positive skin test result. This paralleled trends for serum total IgE. In the nuclear families and COPD patients, serum leukolysin levels were significantly elevated for those who also had elevated total IgE levels (log[IgE]>2.0) compared with those with lower IgE (log[IgE]<2.0). Serum IL-1 levels correlated with the leukolycin levels. In contrast to IgE, leukolysin showed no apparent inherited component. Conclusion Among individuals with history of chronic airways inflammation (asthma and COPD) serum leukolysin may be a metabolic marker associated with chronic atopy-associated respiratory inflammation. Common factors may stimulate increased production or release of both leukolysin from myeloid cells and IgE from lymphoid cells. [source] |