Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2013 May;5(3):162-169. 10.4168/aair.2013.5.3.162.

Assessment of Total/Specific IgE Levels Against 7 Inhalant Allergens in Children Aged 3 to 6 Years in Seoul, Korea

• Kim EJ
• Kwon JW
• Lim YM
• Yoon D
• Seo JH
• Chang WS
• Kim HY
• Park JW
• Cho SH
• Hong SJ
• Lee JS

• KMID: 2260336
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2013.5.3.162

Abstract

PURPOSE
Childhood allergies are a serious problem, as they may lead to lifetime chronic disease. Determination of total and specific IgE levels is known to be a diagnostic tool for allergic sensitization; however, IgE levels are affected by various factors, such as age, sex, ethnicity, and geographic area. Thus, we evaluated the distribution of total and specific serum IgE levels against seven inhalant allergens in preschool children and examined their association with allergic diseases in Seoul, Korea.
METHODS
Total/specific serum IgE determination and skin prick tests for seven common allergens were performed on 509 children aged 3 to 6 years from 16 child care centers in Seoul, Korea. Demographic characteristics were surveyed from parents using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. A diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was made by physicians.
RESULTS
The geometric mean of total IgE was 80.48+/-3.80 kU/L in preschool children. IgE levels were higher in boys (boys, 102.34+/-3.52 kU/L; girls, 62.37+/-3.93 kU/L; P<0.001) and atopic subjects (atopic, 158.00+/-3.35 kU/L; non-atopic, 52.75+/-3.44 kU/L; P<0.001). An increased prevalence of atopy was associated with a high monthly household income (P=0.004) and higher maternal education level (above university-level education; P=0.009), as well as increased total IgE levels (P=0.036). Physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis was associated with sensitization to inhalant allergens.
CONCLUSIONS
Total IgE levels were very high as compared with those in previous reports from other countries. The most common sensitized allergen was Dermatophagoides farinae, and the positive response rate peaked at age 3 years and was maintained thereafter, particularly in boys. Specific IgE levels for seven inhalant allergens varied with age in preschool children. Although further investigations are needed with a broad range of ages and various allergens, the distribution of the total and specific serum IgE levels in preschool children might help to serve as a reference value to diagnose atopy.

Keyword

Allergy; atopy; immunoglobulin E; inhalant allergen; preschool; prevalence

MeSH Terms

Aged
Allergens
Asthma
Child
Child Care
Child, Preschool
Chronic Disease
Dermatitis, Atopic
Dermatophagoides farinae
Family Characteristics
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Korea
Parents
Prevalence
Reference Values
Skin
Surveys and Questionnaires
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Percentile distribution of total and Der f specific IgE levels by age. (A) Percentile for total IgE levels at each age in preschool children. (B) Percentile for Der f specific IgE levels at each age in preschool children.

• 

  Fig. 2 Prevalence of allergic diseases by total IgE percentile. Physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis (P=0.007).

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