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Review
. 2018 Oct 8:11:247-260.
doi: 10.2147/JAA.S142476. eCollection 2018.

Diagnosis of fish and shellfish allergies

Wai Sze Tong  1 , Agatha Wt Yuen  1 , Christine Yy Wai  2 , Nicki Yh Leung  2 , Ka Hou Chu  1 , Patrick Sc Leung  3
Affiliations
Review

Diagnosis of fish and shellfish allergies

Wai Sze Tong et al. J Asthma Allergy. .

Abstract

Seafood allergy is a hypersensitive disorder with increasing prevalence worldwide. Effective and accurate diagnostic workup for seafood allergy is essential for clinicians and patients. Parvalbumin and tropomyosin are the most common fish and shellfish allergens, respectively. The diagnosis of seafood allergies is complicated by cross-reactivity among fish allergens and between shellfish allergens and other arthropods. Current clinical diagnosis of seafood allergy is a complex algorithm that includes clinical assessment, skin prick test, specific IgE measurement, and oral food challenges. Emerging diagnostic strategies, such as component-resolved diagnosis (CRD), which uses single allergenic components for assessment of epitope specific IgE, can provide critical information in predicting individualized sensitization patterns and risk of severe allergic reactions. Further understanding of the molecular identities and characteristics of seafood allergens can advance the development of CRD and lead to more precise diagnosis and improved clinical management of seafood allergies.

Keywords: DBPCFC; ISAC; component-resolved diagnosis; immunoCAP; skin prick test.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagnostic algorithm and clinical management for seafood allergy. Note: Data from Niggemann and Beyer and Lopata et al. Abbreviations: DBPCFC, double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge; IgE, immunoglobulin E; SPT, skin prick test.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Working principle of component-resolved diagnosis, using shrimp tropomyosin as an example.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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