Effect and correlation of serum total IgE, eosinophil granule cationic proteins and sensitized allergens in atopic dermatitis patients with or without rhinitis

Abstract

To understand the relevance of serological parameters and eliciting allergens in the patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and patients with atopic dermatitis in combination with rhinitis (ADR), we compared the serum total IgE, major basic protein (MBP) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels and identified the sensitized allergens in these two groups. The serum levels of total IgE, MBP and ECP were not significantly different in these two groups. Patients with ADR had a higher positive rate of aeroallergens including housedust, mite (D.F), mite (D.P) and cockroach than patients with AD. However, a high positive rate of seafood allergens (include crab, shellfish and shrimp) was observed in patients with AD. The serum IgE level correlated well with serum MBP level (r = 0.603, P = 0. 019) in patients with ADR. There was a strong correlation between serum MBP and ECP level (r = 0.773, P = 0.005) in patients with AD and in patients with ADR (r = 0.721, P = 0.008). We also found that numbers of sensitized allergens correlated well with total IgE in patients with AD (r = 0.760, P = 0.001) and in patients with ADR (r = 0.487, P = 0.004). These results suggested that the aeroallergens are the most important allergens causing and aggravating atopic diseases in Taiwan. Seafood may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. We suggest the measurement of serum total IgE combined with Multiple Allergens Simultaneous Test-Chemiluminescent Assays(AST-CLA) test could be helpful in the diagnosis of atopic diseases.