Sensitization to Common Allergens in Adults with Asthma

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of atopy (ie, allergen sensitization) in a sample of adult asthma outpatients.Methods: Population consisted of a total of 218 patients, 18 to 55 years of age, who were currently receiving care for asthma; and 13 physicians, whose specialties were Family Practice, Allergy, or Pulmonology and who were providing care to at least 10 to 15 asthma patients weekly. Patients provided a blood sample for quantification of total and allergen-specific IgE. Outcomes were the proportion of patients with atopy and the proportions of patients with elevated serum IgE specific to each of 8 specific common allergens.Results: The patients' mean age was 42 years, and 74% were women; 68% of patients met the study definition of atopy. Total serum IgE > 114 kU/L was observed in 48% of patients, and 59% had elevated levels of IgE specific to one or more of 8 common allergens.Conclusions: The majority of adult asthma outpatients had evidence of atopy and most were sensitive to a specific identifiable allergen. Awareness of the high prevalence of atopy among asthma patients might improve patient management. (J Am Board Fam Pract 2005;18:434 -9.)

Cytokine responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to allergen do not identify asthma or asthma phenotypes

“…A diagnosis of asthma was based on a > 200 mL and ≥ 12% improvement in FEV 1 after inhalation of salbutamol or a methacholine PC 20 of < 8 mg/mL. Atopy was defined as a positive skin-prick test to one or more allergens [27]. Asthmatics with an eosinophilic phenotype were defined as having > 3% sputum eosinophils on > 2 occasions [28].…”

Total and Specific IgE in the Sera of Patients With Asthma, Urticaria, or Allergic Rhinitis From the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey

“…In some studies, these rates have been reported as 26% and 48%. 18,19 In a study from Turkey, the sensitivity of tIgE has been reported as 57% in children and 84% in adults. 2 Sixty-one percent of the authors' patients with allergic diseases showed positivity.…”

The Consistency of Total Immunoglobulin E with the Symptoms According to Age and the Selection of Allergy Panels in Malatya (Turkey)

“…A similar result has been noted as 39-59% in adults (18-55 years old) from different regions in another study. 9) However, correlation between the IgE concentration and the severity of allergic symptoms was not determined from the beginning of the work and the current data are insufficient for making proper interpretation.…”