SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Dander”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Maternal history, sensitization to allergens, and current wheezing, rhinitis, and eczema among children in Costa Rica.

Little is known about the factors associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in Latin American countries. We investigated the relation between potential risk factors and current wheezing, allergic rhinitis, and eczema among 208 Costa Rican children aged 10-13 years participating in phase II of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The geometric mean ( +/- SD) serum total IgE level of children with current wheezing was significantly higher than that of children without current wheezing (533.8 +/- 5.2 vs. 144.7 +/- 6.0 IU/mL, P < 0.01). In a multivariate analysis, a maternal history of asthma, skin test reactivity (STR) to house dust mites, and STR to Alternaria were significantly associated with current wheezing. Children who had a maternal history of asthma had 2.4 times higher odds of current wheezing than those without maternal history of asthma (95% CI for OR = 1.1-5.3). Sensitization to either house dust mite or Alternaria was associated with 3.3 times increased odds of current wheezing (95% CI for OR for STR to dust mite = 1.6-6.7; 95% CI for OR for STR to Alternaria = 1.1-11.0). In a multivariate analysis, STR to house dust mite and STR to cat dander were significantly associated with allergic rhinitis, and a maternal history of eczema and STR to dog dander were associated with eczema in the child. The interaction between familial factors and lifestyle changes resulting from social reforms implemented 60 years ago may explain the high prevalence of atopic diseases in Costa Rica.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

[Allergy diagnosis in patients with bronchial asthma (bronchial provocation test, skin test and RAST) (author's transl)].

87 patients with bronchial asthma underwent skin test, RAST and measurment of airway resistance before and after inhalation of control solution as well as at least 10 times after each of one to four bronchial provocations (making up a total of 171 tests) with extracts of house dust, house dust mite, animal dander, mould spores and pollen in increasing concentrations. An actual clinical significance of the skin test reactions was found in 60% of all cases and of the RAST results in 66% of all cases. The overall agreement between skin test results and RAST results was 61%. The correlations between the different tests depended on the degree of hypersensitivity, on the tested allergen and on whether the results of skin test and RAST, respectively, were positive or negative. There existed a good correlation between the results of all three test methods and case history only for pollen allergens and animal dander. Noticeably often negative RAST results with house dust and mould spores, as well as positive skin tests with house dust mite and mould spores could not be confirmed by the provocation test. Important indications for a bronchial provocation test in asthmatics are doubtful case history, doubtful skin test or RAST results with the problem-allergens house dust, house dust mite and mould spores; the bronchial provocation test is especially commendable when drastic or cumbersome therapeutic measures (immunotherapy, change of home, change of job) are to follow or if late asthmatic reactions are expected.

Allergens↗

PubMed1984

Transfer of latent atopy by bone marrow transplantation? A case report.

A previously healthy 8-year old girl was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, and, while she was in first remission, she received a bone marrow transplant from her atopic brother. Studies 1 to 2 years after transplantation revealed that the marrow recipient had a specific-IgE production of donor-type pattern, indicated by the similar skin prick test results and RAST scores in the donor and recipient demonstrating allergy to animal dander and house dust. The recipient's own immunity had been destroyed by the preparative regimen for marrow transplantation, and no lymphoid cells of host origin could be found after transplantation in the chromosome analysis. A sensitization of the recipient to animal dander after transplantation was very unlikely because no animal contacts were present, and the chronic liver graft-versus-host disease of the patient additionally suggested a delayed immunologic recovery. The case history suggests that atopy can be transferred by bone marrow transplantation from donor to recipient. A possible mechanism appears to be a passive transfer not only of lymphoid precursors but also of mature memory cells within the bone marrow inoculum. The donor memory B cells are presumably capable of starting specific-IgE production when the cells are stimulated in the host environment by factors still unknown.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

PubMed1986

Dose of cat (Felis domesticus) allergen 1 (Fel d 1) that induces asthma.

In 10 patients with cat asthma and hay fever, we quantified the doses of cat allergen (expressed as cat allergen 1 [Cat-1] in log Food and Drug Administration [FDA] units) inspired from the ambient air of a room containing living cats required to induce a 20% drop in FEV1. These doses were compared with the doses required to cause the same change in FEV1 when the patients were subjected to bronchial challenge with aerosols of cat hair and dander extract in the conventional manner. Patients highly sensitive to cat extract by skin, leukocyte histamine release, and bronchoprovocation tests and with measurable levels of anticat IgE by RAST were exposed for up to 2 hours in a room occupied full-time by two cats. At the same time, room air was sampled by a Durham gravity sampler, by an Andersen sampler, and by lapel fiberglass filters. When hair and dander particles trapped on greased slides by gravity and Andersen samplers were stained, sized, and counted, squamous cell fragments in the less than 10 mm range were abundant. Assays of extracts from the lapel filters for Cat-1 content by radioimmunoassay and for allergenic activity by leukocyte histamine release demonstrated a significant correlation (p less than 0.05) between the results of the two assays. All patients developed rhinitis and asthma during exposure. At the time of a 20% drop in FEV1, when air sampling was stopped, the lapel filters had trapped a total of -1.86 to less than -3.04 (median -2.74) log FDA units Cat-1. These measurements of Cat-1 exposure in the room correlated (p less than 0.01) with the doses of cat extract (-1.18 to -3.15 [median -2.26] log FDA units Cat-1 equivalents) required to induce a 20% fall in FEV1 in the conventional bronchoprovocation tests.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed1988

Monoclonal antibodies to the major feline allergen Fel d I. I. Serologic and biologic activity of affinity-purified Fel d I and of Fel d I-depleted extract.

Monoclonal antibodies were raised against a major feline allergen, Fel d I. The specificity of the antibodies for Fel d I was demonstrated by a modified crossed immunoelectrophoretic procedure. These antibodies were used in affinity purification and depletion. Fed d I was eluted from the affinity matrix at a low pH. It was tested in serologic and biologic assays. Results of both the RAST and the histamine release test with affinity-purified Fel d I confirmed that it is a very potent allergen for the majority of patients allergic to cats. In the extract depleted with the monoclonal antibody, the ratio Fel d I/cat albumin was reduced by a factor of 20. With this depleted extract, 18 of 25 patients showed a reduction greater than 50% of the bound anti-IgE in the RAST compared with the RAST with crude cat extract. In the histamine release test with cells from two patients, the activity of the depleted extract was reduced by factors of 30 and 40, respectively. Depletion of Fel d I by polyclonal antibodies resulted in a reduction of the ratio Fel d I/cat albumin by a factor of 330. In the RAST, a reduction of the IgE response greater than 50% was found in 23 of 25 patients; in 12 patients the reduction was greater than 90%. In the histamine release test, the polyclonally depleted extract was 200 to 300 times less potent than the crude cat-dander extract. These results indicate that a very large proportion of the allergenic activity of cat-dander extract is caused by a single molecule: Fel d I.

Allergens↗

PubMed1988

Discrepancies between the skin test and IgE antibody assays: study of histamine release, complement activation in vitro, and occurrence of allergen-specific IgG.

Intracutaneous skin tests (STs) and RAST with the common allergens, grass pollen, house dust mite, and cat dander, were performed on 660 adult patients. In 117 patients (18%), we found 140 discordances (7%) in a total number of 1980 ST and RAST combinations. In agreement with studies in the literature, greater than 80% of the discordances consisted of positive skin reactions without detectable allergen-specific IgE antibodies in serum. The percentages of discordant results were similar for the three allergens. Reproducibility of both the RAST and the ST was evaluated in the discordant group. Repetition of the routine RAST procedure elicited results similar to those in the first test in 81% (105/130). A second ST elicited identical results in 89% (47/53). In addition to the routine IgE antibody assay, sera of patients with a positive ST but without detectable IgE antibodies were tested in two other RAST systems: (1) a RAST with allergen extracts from the same production batch as the ST reagents, and (2) the Pharmacia RAST. In spite of having a clearly positive ST, sera from 68 (80%) of 85 patients remained completely negative in all three RAST systems. Histamine release (HR) in vitro from washed leukocytes was studied in 35 patients with a reproducible positive ST and negative RAST results with serum. Interpretation of this test was possible in 28 patients. In 82% (23/28) of these patients, clearly detectable HR was found with the relevant allergen extract. A role of IgE in the skin reactions and HR tests was confirmed by positive RAST results with IgE that was affinity purified from serum of seven of these patients. Allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies are unlikely to be implicated, since no antibodies against grass pollen and house dust mite were detectable in sera of these patients. Only 18% of the patients with an unexplained skin reaction with cat dander have detectable IgG4 antibodies, but these antibodies were found in a similar frequency in a nonallergic, ST negative control group. Low total IgG responses precluded false negative RAST results caused by competition of IgG antibodies with IgE antibodies. There were no significant differences in the degree of complement activation in vitro by house-dust extracts between healthy control subjects, nonallergic patients, and patients with unexplained skin reactivity. It is concluded that a high proportion of the positive skin reactions with common inhalant allergens, which are not accompanied by a positive RAST, are probably caused by IgE antibodies that are not detectable in serum with any of the RAST procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Affinity purification of a major and a minor allergen from dog extract: serologic activity of affinity-purified Can f I and of Can f I-depleted extract.

Most dog-allergic patients react to a major 25 kd component on sodium dodecyl sulfate blots, Can f I (Ag 13). We initially raised monoclonal antibodies (Cf-3 and Cf-2) reactive with IgE-binding components distinct from Can f I. After a slight modification, we immunized other strains of mice and produced monoclonal antibodies coded Cf-1a and Cf-1b reactive with Can f 1. We affinity purified the allergens, Can f I and "dog allergen 2" with Cf-1a and Cf-2 ascites, respectively, and house dust-rich dog dander. Comparison of purified Can f I with dog saliva in RAST demonstrated that Can f I is a potent allergen for most dog-allergic patients (average response, 70%). After depletion of dog saliva of Can f I, a slightly lower contribution for Can f I was found, but the overall results supported the conclusion that Can f I is a major allergen in dog saliva. Comparison of purified dog allergen 2 with dog dander in RAST demonstrated that dog allergen 2 is less important for dog-allergic patients (average response, 23%). We radiolabeled the purified allergens and developed assays to measure Can f I and dog allergen 2 in allergen extracts and dust samples. Dog saliva was a strong allergen source, dog urine and feces contained very little of the allergens, and both allergens were found to a variable degree in the nine dog breeds tested.

Allergens↗

PubMed1992

Effect of environmental factors on the development of allergic disorders in infancy.

A total of 1167 infants were followed for 1 year in a population-based prospective study to assess the effect of environmental factors on the development of allergic disorders. Some of these environmental factors are interdependent. Mothers who formula fed their infants smoked more often (p less than 0.001) and tended to belong to lower social classes (p less than 0.01). Logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for these confounding variables. Maternal smoking adversely affected the prevalence of asthma (p = 0.003) defined as three or more separate episodes of wheezing and total allergy (p = 0.02). Infants in lower socioeconomic groups developed asthma significantly more often (p = 0.03) than infants born in higher socioeconomic groups. There was a nonsignificant trend for infants born in summer to develop asthma more than infants born in winter (p = 0.08). No effect of these factors was observed on eczema, food intolerance, or on the subgroup of infants with definite allergy (clinical disorder with positive skin prick test [SPT]). Exposure to animal dander did not influence the prevalence of clinical disorder, but positive SPT reaction to cat dander was more prevalent in infants who were exposed to cats and/or dogs (p = 0.04). Positive SPT to house dust mite occurred significantly more often in infants who were formula fed (p = 0.05). The environmental factors had a profound effect on the prevalence of asthma but not on other allergic disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of sublingual immunotherapy with standardized cat extract.

BACKGROUND: In light of the controversial status of sublingual immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis, we undertook a double-blind study of this form of treatment. METHODS: Forty-one subjects with cat allergy presenting as rhinoconjunctivitis underwent 105 days of sublingual immunotherapy, with 20 subjects receiving a standardized cat extract (total dose approximately 4,500,000 allergy units) and 21 a matching placebo. Effectiveness of treatment was assessed by changes in symptoms and nasal-blockage index during 90 minutes of exposure in an apartment containing cat dander, which was performed before and after the course of treatment. Changes in cat-specific IgG and IgE levels and skin-test reactions were also monitored. RESULTS: Although there were fewer symptoms and less nasal obstruction on cat dander exposure at the end of the study the changes were not significantly different in those receiving active or placebo treatment. Specific IgG and IgE levels and prick skin test results did not change significantly during the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that sublingual immunotherapy with high-dose standardized cat extract was no more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms or affecting immunologic measures of cat sensitivity.

Administration, Sublingual↗

PubMed1988

Monoclonal antibodies against Fel d I and other clinically relevant cat allergens.

Several mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were obtained which specifically recognized allergen molecules from cat dander extract. Two of them (C5.8 and C5.24) were specific for the main cat allergen, Fel d I. One (C5.25) recognized an important allergen with approximate molecular weight of 30000 Da and a pI between 3.9 and 4.3. A third group of MAbs comprised several hybridomas which were specific either for cat albumin or cat immunoglobulin. The immunochemical characterization and the clinical significance of the cat dander components recognized by these MAbs is presented and discussed.

Allergens↗

PubMed2006

Rabbit allergens: a significant risk for allergic sensitization in subjects without occupational exposure.

BACKGROUND: Although rabbits are becoming popular as pets, data about the characteristics of allergic sensitization to rabbit allergens in patients without professional exposure are scarce. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To determine the characteristics of allergic sensitization to pet rabbits, and the role of direct and indirect exposure to rabbits and rabbit allergens in non-professionally exposed patients. METHODS: From among 1124 consecutive outpatients, we selected all subjects with an immediate skin reaction to rabbit dander. A clinical history including a careful evaluation of the modality of rabbit exposure, the results of skin-prick tests (SPTs) and total/specific IgE antibodies were recorded. The prevalence of rabbit ownership in the Naples area was also calculated. RESULTS: Among 753 SPT-positive patients, 20 (2.65%) were sensitized to rabbit dander (5 patients were mono-sensitized). Fifteen patients reported direct rabbit contact (7 were rabbit owners and 8 had occasional contact outside the home); 3 patients had indirect exposure through contact with rabbit owners and 2 patients denied any direct or indirect exposure. Rabbit mono-sensitized owners of pet rabbits had persistent (moderate-severe) symptoms. The prevalence of rabbit ownership is 1.56%. CONCLUSIONS: In susceptible not professionally exposed individuals, direct rabbit contact and, in some cases, indirect or no apparent exposure, may induce allergic sensitization to rabbit allergens. A progressive increase in rabbit sensitization (also by indirect exposure) may be expected as a consequence of the increase in rabbit ownership.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Sensitization to environmental antigens in asthmatic children from a central Italian area.

This study was designed to evaluate the frequency of respiratory allergens in different age groups of asthmatic atopic children in the Chieti-Pescara area. We examined a pediatric population (507 children) aged between 1 to 17 years (mean 6.62 +/- 2.9). All the children were submitted to a panel of skin prick tests (SPT) for 12 common aeroallergens: Grass Pollens (G.), Parietaria (P.), Olive (O.), Artemisia (A.), Ragweed (R.), Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides Farinae (D.P. & D.F.), Cat and Dog dander (C.D.), Feathers (F.), Alternaria (Al.), Aspergillus (As.). All the subjects gave positive result to one or more allergens. The population was subdivided in to 4 groups according to their age (Group A: 1-3 years; Group B: 4-6 years; Group C: 7-9 years; Group D: 10-17 years). In each age group, we determined the number of subjects with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and more than 5 positive SPT and the prevalence of positive SPT for different allergens. We found that 74% of 507 patients showed positive reaction to Dermatophagoides Pt, 71% to Dermatophagoides Fa, 45% to Grass, 23% to Parietaria, 21% to Olive, 17% to Artemisia, 17% to Cat's or Dog's danders, 13% to Alternaria, 5.9% to Ragweed, 5.9% to Feathers, and 4% to Aspergillus. In addition we detected that 12% of children examined were monosensitized; 56% were sensitized to 2 or 3 allergens; 22% were sensitized to 4 or 5 allergens, and then 8% were polysensitized to > 5 allergens. The allergy to grass pollens and to house dust mites was the most frequent in monosensitized. In the older patients, we found an increase in number of positives SPT to several allergens, and an increase in the frequency of Gr., P. and O. allergy, while the house dust mites sensitization remained constant in all groups and represented the dominant cause of asthmatic symptoms in this population. Our data confirm the importance of age in determining a respiratory polysensitization. In conclusion, our data suggest that house dust mites (D.P. and D.F.) and grass pollens are the most common allergens in asthmatic children of the Chieti-Pescara area.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Early childhood risk factors for sensitization at school age.

Early childhood risk factors for current sensitization were investigated by use of cross-sectional data of a longitudinal study in Southwest Germany. Information was gathered by questionnaires from 1812 families of whom 1470 children 6 to 8 years old were tested by means of a skin prick test (SPT) with seven aeroallergens. Groups with sensitization (n = 201; positive SPT to grass pollens 6.6%, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 6.5%, Dermatophagoides farinae 4.4%, cat dander 4.6%, any of the tested allergens 13.7%) are compared with children without sensitization (n = 1269). As risk factors for any sensitization parental atopy (odds ratio [OR]/95% confidence interval [95%CI]: unilateral 1.9/1.3 to 2.6; bilateral 2.8/1.5 to 5.2), low gestational age (1.9/1.1 to 3.2), and male gender (1.6/1.2 to 2.3) are statistically significant in multiple logistic regression. Former cat ownership is significantly related to sensitization to cat dander (2.7/1.4 to 5.5). Breast feeding, maternal smoking habits after the child's birth, prior exposure to pets, and social class are not important. In conclusion, our data suggest parental atopy, low gestational age, and male gender as independent risk factors for sensitization to aeroallergens at school age.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1990

Evidence for a Fel d I-like molecule in the "big cats" (Felidae species).

In this study, we investigated the cross-reactivity pattern of IgE and IgG4 antibodies to the major feline allergen, Fel d I. We studied the IgE and IgG4 response of 11 cat-allergic patients against Fel d I-like structures in eight members of the Felidae family: ocelot, puma, serval, siberian tiger, lion, jaguar, snow leopard, and caracal. Hair from these "big cats" was collected, extracted, and used in a RAST system and histamine-release test. By means of a RAST-inhibition assay with affinity-purified Fel d I from cat dander, it was established that, in the Felidae species, a Fel d I equivalent is present that reacts with IgE and IgG4 antibodies. We found that all patients had cross-reacting IgE antibodies to seven of the Felidae tested; no IgE antibodies reactive with the caracal were found. Eight of 10 patients with IgG4 antibodies directed to cat dander also had IgG4 antibodies directed to several Felidae species, including the caracal. However, the correlation between the IgE and the IgG4 antibody specificity was low, indicating that, in the case of Fel d I IgE and IgG4, antibodies do not necessarily have the same specificity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Homology of a bovine allergen and the oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein of the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase complex.

We have characterized bovine allergens by constructing and analyzing a complementary DNA library from bovine skin. Clones producing proteins that reacted with IgE antibodies from persons with allergy were purified and sequenced. One set of the allergen-coding clones showed an almost complete homology with the bovine oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein of the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase complex. The IgE antibodies adsorbed with the recombinant allergen reacted with an 11 kd protein in the cow dander extract. Binding of the IgE from patients allergic to the recombinant allergen expressed in Escherichia coli confirmed the allergen-coding ability of the complementary DNA sequence. The prevalence of the IgE-positive sera among patients with cow allergy and control subjects suggests that the recombinant allergen represents one of the minor allergens in cow dander. This is the first time a mammalian allergen has been identified as a protein with a known function.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1997

Biologic allergen assay for in vivo test allergens with an in vitro model of the murine type I reaction.

BACKGROUND: The determination of the biologic activity of allergenic extracts in human beings is limited for ethical and practical reasons. The establishment of a simplified in vitro model, which mimics a main event of the type I reaction, should provide true benefit for manufactures, researchers, and clinicians. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to develop and evaluate a mediator release assay based on rat bosophil leukemia cells for the purpose of investigating allergenic extracts. METHODS: Rat basophil leukemia cells were passively sensitized with murine IgE raised against allergens and stimulated by serial dilutions of allergenic extracts in a dose-related manner. The allergen-specific degranulation was monitored by measuring the release of beta-hexosaminidase. RESULTS: The investigation of standardized commercial allergen products for in vivo diagnostics (birch pollen, cat dander, and bee venom) allowed a quantitative description of differences in biologic activity in accordance with the declared activity units. The Fel d 1 content was determined in 17 cat dander extracts and correlated well with the results of a two-site binding ELISA (r = 0.93, log/log). Extremely low allergen amounts in the range of 10 to 100 pg/ml could be easily detected. Moreover, the cross-reactivity pattern of patients allergic to birch pollen could be reproduced with extracts of hazel, alder, apple, and celery. CONCLUSION: The assay is suitable for supplementing quality control of allergenic extracts and for the determination of biologic activity of final allergen products. As a research tool, it allows the study of IgE cross-linking properties of modified and recombinant allergens at an early stage before they are tested in human beings.

Allergens↗

PubMed1999

Relevance of allergens from cats and dogs to asthma in the northernmost province of Sweden: schools as a major site of exposure.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of asthma in the northernmost region of Sweden has been estimated at 6% to 8% in spite of the very dry climate. The causes of the increase in asthma are not clear, but conditions are unfavorable for dust mite growth, and domestic animals are thought to be the primary source of indoor allergens. OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the relationship between asthma, exposure, and sensitization in Northern Sweden, with a focus on the role of schools. METHODS: Serum was collected from 110 asthmatic children, 55 children with symptoms of asthma but no established diagnosis, and 63 control children (age, 7 and 8 years). Total IgE and specific IgE to 7 allergens were measured. Dust samples were collected from the classrooms of 7- and 8-year-old children in 22 schools from Kiruna and Luleâ, Sweden. For comparison, dust was also collected from 24 homes in Kiruna and 2 schools in Virginia in the United States. RESULTS: Serum IgE antibody assays on 165 children with respiratory symptoms confirmed that there was a high degree of sensitization to cat, dog, and birch in Northern Sweden. Cat and dog allergens were present in almost all of the school samples in Sweden. By contrast, dust mite and cockroach allergens were generally unmeasurable. The highest levels of cat and dog allergens were found in samples from desks and chairs. Cat and dog allergen levels in the schools were comparable with but higher than those in the homes without pets. The schools in Virginia had similar allergen levels, except that samples from this humid region also had significant mite allergen. CONCLUSIONS: In this climate the primary sensitization associated with asthma is to cat dander and dog dander but also to birch pollen. Mite and cockroach allergens were not present in the dust samples, and sensitization to these allergens was not significant. The schools appear to be a major site of exposure to cat and dog allergens. These results are relevant both to an understanding of the reasons for the increase in asthma in this region and to any proposal to reduce exposure to allergens.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2000

ImmunoCAP and HY*TEC enzyme immunoassays in the detection of allergen-specific IgE compared with serial skin end-point titration by receiver operating characteristic analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we compared 2 different immunoassays, HY*TEC enzyme immunoassay (Hycor Biomedical Inc, Garden Grove, CA) and Pharmacia Upjohn ImmunoCAP (Pharmacia and Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI) using skin end-point titration as a gold standard by receiver operating characteristic analysis. MATERIALS: One hundred patients were enrolled in this study and were tested with the above 3 modalities. The results were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic analysis, in which the curves give a decision criterion for any diagnostic test relative to its sensitivity and specificity against an accepted gold standard test. Only inhalant allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, cat dander, giant ragweed, English plantain weed, timothy grass, Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus fumigatus, meadow fescue, oak tree, white ash tree, and lamb's-quarter weed) were studied. RESULTS: The results obtained with both ImmunoCAP and HY*TEC showed a good correlation with skin end-point titration for D pteronyssinus, D farina, cat dander, giant ragweed, timothy grass, A tenuis, and meadow fescue, with sensitivities ranging from 71% to 88%. However, the sensitivity of both tests to English plantain weed, lamb's-quarter weed, oak tree, and white ash tree was lower (66% down to 39%). Additionally, HY*TEC results were not satisfactory for detecting specific IgE to A fumigatus (30% sensitivity). The overall sensitivity for each test was 65.67% for the HY*TEC and 71.25% for the ImmunoCAP. CONCLUSION: The 2 in vitro testing systems are comparable for most of the allergens, except for A fumigatus, English plantain, lamb's-quarter, and white ash tree; ImmunoCAP and HY*TEC would benefit from improved technology for detecting these specific IgE antibodies. The HY*TEC assay did not give acceptable results for A fumigatus. The overall assay characteristics were good to excellent for each system tested.

Adolescent↗