Foods and food allergy: the prevalence of IgE antibodies specific for food allergens in Saudi patients

Abstract

Objective: The intent of this study is to determine the prevalence and pattern of sensitivity to food allergens in Saudi patients.

Subjects: The subjects included in this study were 58 patients with asthma, 47 patients with rhinitis and 112 patients with urticaria. They all gave clinical history suspecting food as causing or aggravating their symptoms.

Methods: Specific IgE antibodies to different food allergens were measured in the patients serum by using the Pharmacia CAP Radioaller gosorbent (RAST) Fluoroimmunoassay (FEIA) test.

Results: IgE-antibodies specific for different foods were detected in 38 (17.5%) out of 217 patients. Most positive reactions were detected in urticaria patients (9.7%) followed by asthmatic patients (5.5%) and allergic rhinitis (2.3%). Reactions to peanut (22.6%), egg white (14.5) and cow's milk (12.9%) were very prominent.

Conclusion: The prevalence rate of food allergy seems to be high in Saudi patients when compared to studies from other regions. The pattern of food reactions, detected in this study, can be utilized in diagnosis of patients with suspected food allergy. Further studies will be required to obtain more information about the prevalence and incidence rates among different patient groups.