Skin testing versus radioallergosorbent testing for indoor allergens

Clinical and Molecular Allergy

Sami L Bahna¹  Edgar Yee¹  Birjis Chinoy¹ 

[1] Allergy and Immunology Section, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

关键词: Dog;    Cat;    Cockroach;    Mite;    Specific IgE;    RAST;    Skin testing;    Allergy;   

Others  :  792760
DOI  :  10.1186/1476-7961-3-4

 received in 2005-01-27, accepted in 2005-04-15,  发布年份 2005

【 摘 要 】

Background

Skin testing (ST) is the most common screening method for allergy evaluation. Measurement of serum specific IgE is also commonly used, but less so by allergists than by other practitioners. The sensitivity and specificity of these testing methods may vary by type of causative allergen and type of allergic manifestation. We compared ST reactivity with serum specific IgE antibodies to common indoor allergens in patients with respiratory allergies.

Methods

118 patients (3 mo-58 yr, mean 12 yr) with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma had percutaneous skin testing (PST) supplemented by intradermal testing (ID) with those allergens suspected by history but showed negative PST. The sera were tested blindly for specific IgE antibodies by the radioallergosorbent test (Phadebas RAST). The allergens were D. farinae (118), cockroach (60), cat epithelium (90), and dog epidermal (90). Test results were scored 0–4; ST ≥ 2 + and RAST ≥ 1 + were considered positive.

Results

The two tests were in agreement (i.e., either both positive or both negative) in 52.2% (dog epidermal) to 62.2% (cat epithelium). When RAST was positive, ST was positive in 80% (dog epidermal) to 100% (cockroach mix). When ST was positive, RAST was positive in 16.3% (dog epidermal) to 50.0% (D. farinae). When RAST was negative, ST was positive in 48.5% (cat epithelium) to 69.6% (D. farinae). When ST was negative, RAST was positive in 0% (cockroach) to 5.6% (cat epithelium). The scores of ST and RAST showed weak to moderate correlation (r = 0.24 to 0.54). Regardless of history of symptoms on exposure, ST was superior to RAST in detecting sensitization to cat epithelium and dog epidermal.

Conclusion

For all four indoor allergens tested, ST was more sensitive than RAST. When both tests were positive, their scores showed poor correlation. Sensitizations to cat epithelium and dog epidermal are common, even in subjects who claimed no direct exposure.

【 授权许可】

   
2005 Chinoy et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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