Concentration of IgE in children during ragweed pollination season

Abstract

Genetic and environmental factors are responsible for running allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the values of total-(t-IgE) and allergen-specific IgE (s-IgE) to Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Amb a) in children with sensitization to Amb a during ragweed pollination season, who experienced seasonal symptoms of allergic rhinitis (rhinorrhea, post-nasal drip, nasal congestion, itching, sneezing) and asthma (coughing, especially at night, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness). Ragweed pollen grains were collected in Virovitica (rural area) and Zagreb (urban area)-cities with the same geographical width and elevation-during ragweed pollination seasons (July-October in 2006 and 2007), and their count was estimated. Concentration of t-IgE and s-IgE in pollination season was determined in serum of children with symptoms of allergic diseases. The total count of ragweed pollen grains (PG) differed significantly between Virovitica and Zagreb in both years, 2006. and 2007. In Virovitica it was significantly greater than in Zagreb. There was no statistically significant seasonal difference in both, t-IgE and s-IgE, respectively. No correlation was found between pollen grain count and the concentration of IgE's. To clarify the induction of IgE synthesis in children with sensitization to Amb a, further studies are needed.

Influence of airborne pollen counts and length of pollen season of selected allergenic plants on the concentration of sIgE antibodies on the population of Bratislava, Slovakia

“…Some authors have confirmed the close relationship between the airborne pollen concentration and the allergic symptom score [6][7][8][9][10]. The above-mentioned authors have revealed an increase in the presence of symptoms when pollen counts were higher, while other authors have examined the relationship between airborne pollen and the prevalence of positive skin prick tests results [11,12,13,14] or sIgE levels in serum [14,15,16,17].…”

A review of clinical efficacy, safety, new developments and adherence to allergen-specific immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to ragweed pollen (<em>Ambrosia artemisiifolia</em>)

“… 17 AIT appears to have a clinical efficacy of up to 12 years and can prevent the development of asthma and hypersensitivity to novel allergens. 18 , 19 Indications for AIT with ragweed allergen extracts/preparations include: Verification of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated sensitization – not necessarily monosensitization (combining skin testing, eg, skin prick test [SPT] and in vitro diagnostics 20 – total and allergen-specific IgE in serum, especially elevated levels of specific IgE to ragweed major allergen Amb a 1, as well as novel in vitro methods, such as basophil activation test, with elevated levels of activated and degranulated basophils in response to ragweed allergens)–with a clear relationship to clinical history (symptoms of AR, rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma). Availability of standardized or in-house high-quality allergen preparations.…”

“…Verification of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated sensitization – not necessarily monosensitization (combining skin testing, eg, skin prick test [SPT] and in vitro diagnostics 20 – total and allergen-specific IgE in serum, especially elevated levels of specific IgE to ragweed major allergen Amb a 1, as well as novel in vitro methods, such as basophil activation test, with elevated levels of activated and degranulated basophils in response to ragweed allergens)–with a clear relationship to clinical history (symptoms of AR, rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma).…”