IgE to specific peanut allergens (Ara h) may identify peanut-sensitized individuals at risk of severe symptoms

Allergen-specific IgE testing is often performed with crude peanut extract, but the results may be difficult to interpret because of cross-reactions between peanut and other plant allergens.

From a birth cohort, IgE antibody levels to peanut and birch pollen were measured.

Peanut symptoms were reported in 87% of the children with IgE reactivity to any of the peanut allergens Ara h 1, 2 or 3 but not to Ara h 8 vs 17% of children with IgE reactivity to Ara h 8 but not to Ara h 1, 2 or 3.

Symptoms were more severe in children with Ara h 1, 2 or 3 reactivity.

IgE analysis to peanut allergen components may be used to distinguish between peanut-sensitized individuals at risk of severe symptoms and those likely to have milder or no symptoms to peanut.


8 top allergens account for 90 percent of food allergies. Specific IgE levels (sIgE) that predict the likelihood of passing an oral food challenge are shown in the figure. (click to enlarge the image). Sensitivity of blood allergy testing is 25-30% lower than that of skin testing, based on comparative studies (CCJM 2011).

References:

IgE to peanut allergen components: relation to peanut symptoms and pollen sensitization in 8-year-olds. A. Asarnoj et al. Allergy, 2010.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123276060/abstract
Peanut allergy: Diagnostic accuracy of sIgE to Ara h 6 in adults is as good as Ara h 2 http://buff.ly/1uU314i


Comparison of diagnostic methods for peanut, egg, and milk allergy - skin prick test (SPT) vs. specific IgE (sIgE) (click to see the spreadsheet).

Overdiagnosis of Food Allergy: IgE and skin-prick testing should be confined to the realm of experts (allergists). Medscape, 2011.

Below is a marketing video from ImmunoCAP Peanut Component test. From the test manufacturer's YouTube channel: "The mother of a patient shared the story of her son who was diagnosed with multiple food allergies as an infant. After a peanut allergy diagnosis, the family's world was turned upside down. Recently, when starting Kindergarten, his doctor recommended the ImmunoCAP Peanut Component tests and, like 75% of all peanut sensitized individuals, the test results indicated he was not clinically allergic. He can now eat peanuts without fear."

1 comment:

  1. Dr Dimov

    Great blog site- I thought you might like to learn about a new night time allergen avoidance therapy - the PureZone System www.purezone.com

    Our clinical studies have been presented at both ACAAI and AAAAI and the manuscript on Dr Stillerman's investigation has been accepted to be published in Annals of Allergy and Asthma.
    let me know if you would like a copy of the abstracts and if you would have interest to evaluate the device for your self.

    regards
    Josh Waldman
    CEO
    PureZone Technologies

    ReplyDelete