J Korean Med Sci.  2006 Dec;21(6):1012-1016. 10.3346/jkms.2006.21.6.1012.

Comparison of Allergic Indices in Monosensitized and Polysensitized Patients with Childhood Asthma

• Kim KW
• Kim EA
• Kwon BC
• Kim ES
• Song TW
• Sohn MH
• Kim KE

• KMID: 1713110
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2006.21.6.1012

Abstract

Monosensitization differs both immunologically and clinically from polysensitization, and specific immunotherapy is more effective in patients sensitized only to a single pollen than in multiple-pollen sensitized patients. To further examine the differences between monosensitized and polysensitized allergies, allergic indices were examined in 68 monosensitized and 62 polysensitized patients with childhood asthma. Measurements included symptom scores, eosinophil counts, skin prick tests, serum total and specific IgE levels, and IL-10 levels, and were used to compare allergic indices between the two groups. Patients were followed for 18 months following immunotherapy to examine the effectiveness of the treatment. Symptom scores and total IgE levels were significantly higher in the polysensitized group than those in the monosensitized group (p<0.05). The levels of skin test response decreased significantly in both groups following immunotherapy. In the monosensitized group, symptom scores and specific IgE levels were significantly reduced after immunotherapy (p<0.05). In the polysensitized group, symptom scores were reduced after immunotherapy (p<0.05), but the degree of reduction was less than that of the monosensitized group (p<0.05). Moreover, in the polysensitized group, specific IgE levels after immunotherapy did not differ from that before immunotherapy. Serum IL-10 levels were not significantly increased after immunotherapy in either group. In conclusion, polysensitized patients tend to show higher allergic indices and immunotherapy might be less effective for these patients.

Keyword

Asthma; Child; Immunotherapy; Immunoglobulin E

MeSH Terms

Skin Tests/*methods
Sensitivity and Specificity
Reproducibility of Results
Male
Hypersensitivity/*classification/*diagnosis
Humans
*Health Status Indicators
Female
Child
Asthma/*classification/*diagnosis

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Symptom scores differ significantly between monosensitized and polysensitized groups. Symptom scores also decrease significantly after immunotherapy in both groups. Error bars represent the standard deviation.

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  Fig. 2 The level of IgE specific to house dust mite (D. farinae) decreases significantly after immunotherapy in the monosensitized group (p<0.05), but not in the polysensitized group. Error bars represent standard deviation. NS, not significant.

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