Measurement of nasal IgE in an epidemiological study: assessment of its diagnostic value in respiratory allergy

Abstract

Background: Specific questionnaire and skin prick test (SPT) are the most used methods in epidemiological studies on respiratory allergy. SPT, however, can be positive in many subjects without evidence of any allergic disease. Nasal IgE determination has been suggested by some authors as a valuable diagnostic method, which may overcome this lack of specificity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of nasal specific IgE for the seven most common inhalant allergens in order to verify its reliability as a screening test.

Methods: 126 children, involved in an epidemiological study on prevalence of respiratory allergic disease, were evaluated. All children were assessed with a specific questionnaire, SPT and nasal specific IgE. Nasal specific IgE were determined with a previously described method modified for screening purposes, in order to test seven allergens at the same time. When discordant results were obtained between questionnaire, SPT and nasal IgE, an allergen specific nasal challenge (ASNC) was performed and nasal tryptase was also determined before and after challenge.

Results: The questionnaire was positive for respiratory allergy in 28/126 children. SPT was positive in 21 of the 28 children, but also in 5/10 children with atopic dermatitis (AD), and in 12/88 children without allergic symptoms. Nasal IgE were positive in 22/28 and also in 2/10 with AD. Nasal challenge and tryptase confirmed the negativity of nasal IgE in 12/17 children with positive SPT but totally negative for allergic respiratory disease. Moreover nasal IgE was found to be positive to dermatophagoides in one of seven children with negative SPT despite a clinical history suggestive for mite respiratory allergy. In this patient and in 2 of the 5 children with AD the positive nasal IgE to mites was confirmed by a positive ASNC and tryptase.

Conclusions: Nasal IgE have shown a specificity significantly higher than SPT (98% vs. 83%) and a good sensibility. This screening test may also be useful to detect the beginning of upper airways sensitization in patients with AD.