Can Immunoglobulin E-measurement replace challenge tests in allergic rhinoconjunctivits to grass pollen?

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy 2011-08, Vol.41 (8), p.1116-1124
• Main Authors: Huss-Marp, J., Darsow, U., Brockow, K., Pfab, F., Weichenmeier, I., Schober, W., Petersson, C. J., Borres, M. P., Ring, J., Behrendt, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Allergens; Allergens - adverse effects; Allergens - immunology; Allergies; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Biological and medical sciences; conjunctival provocation; Data processing; Dose-response effects; dose-response relationship; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Grasses; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - analysis; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Immunologi inom det medicinska området; Immunologic Tests - methods; Immunology in the medical area; Male; Middle Aged; nasal provocation; Nasal Provocation Tests; Pediatrics; Pediatrik; Phleum - immunology; Pollen; Pollen - adverse effects; Pollen - immunology; pollinosis; Prospective Studies; Provocation tests; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - diagnosis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - immunology; rhinoconjunctivitis; skin prick test; Skin Tests; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03745.x

Summary Background There is minimal data available concerning the dose–response relationship between allergen exposure and clinical reactivity for outdoor aeroallergens, such as timothy grass pollen. Timothy pollen‐specific IgE (sIgE) determinations might assist in predicting the clinical reactivity in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). Methods Allergen‐sIgE antibody levels of timothy grass pollen were correlated with individual threshold doses eliciting allergic reactions in skin prick test (SPT), conjunctival (CPT) and nasal (NPT) provocation tests in patients suffering from pollen‐induced rhinoconjunctivitis and healthy controls. Results One hundred and four patients with ARC (median age: 27 years; range: 18–64; females: 58%) and 36 controls (25 years (22–77); females: 70%) were included in the study. Ninety‐six percent of the patients showed a positive reaction in the nasal and 57% showed a positive reaction in the conjunctival provocation. With regarding to titrated SPT, 98% of the patients showed a positive skin test reaction; correlating with the level of sIgE for timothy (P