Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2015 Dec;8(4):381-384. 10.3342/ceo.2015.8.4.381.

Decreased Serum Epinephrine in Children With Positive Skin Prick Test

• Hong SC
• Suh JD
• Chung S
• Lee SH
• Choi JH
• Oh JI
• Kim IT
• Kim JK
• Cho JH

• KMID: 2128914
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2015.8.4.381

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the association between catecholamine levels and skin prick test results among children.
METHODS
Two hundred eight first grade children from one elementary school were invited to participate in this study. Skin prick test (SPT) for six allergens (2 house dust mites, cat, dog, mugwort, and pollen mixture) was performed, and patient demographic information was recorded. The parents were surveyed using questionnaires about rhinitis-related symptoms. Finally, venous blood sampling was done to measure catecholamine levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) by high-performance liquid chromatography.
RESULTS
Out of 208 children, 174 (106 boys and 68 girls) enrolled in this study. Ninety-six of the children (55%) had negative SPT (nonsensitization group), while 78 (45%) had a positive SPT to at least one of six allergens (sensitization group). The diagnosis of chronic rhinitis was more prevalent in the sensitization group (35.9%) than nonsensitization group (26.0%), however the finding was not significant (P=0.186). Epinephrine levels were decreased between the sensitization group compared to the nonsensitization group (P=0.004). There was no difference in norepinephrine and dopamine levels (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Epinephrine levels are lower in children with positive SPT compared to controls, however, the level of the catecholamine was not associated with the presence or absence of rhinitis symptoms.

Keyword

Allergic Rhinitis; Epinephrine; Child; Skin Tests

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Animals
Artemisia
Cats
Child*
Chromatography, Liquid
Diagnosis
Dogs
Dopamine
Epinephrine*
Humans
Norepinephrine
Parents
Pollen
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis
Skin Tests
Skin*
Allergens
Dopamine
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine

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