title: Tannic acid's effect on bird antigen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Birds have been associated with many diseases including hypersensitivity pneumonitis and allergic diseases such as asthma and rhinitis. Bird antigen from homes of patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis persists long after the bird is removed from the home. This may account for the persistence of symptoms, signs, and bird-specific IgG in patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Tannic acid application has been effective in decreasing cat and mite allergen levels. No data have been available on tannic acid's effect on bird antigen.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  It is the purpose of this study to determine whether tannic acid reduces bird antigen in the home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dust samples were collected from homes with bird antigen before and after application of tannic acid. Samples were assayed for bird antigen levels using a competitive inhibition ELISA. Pre- and post-bird antigen levels were compared using a paired t test to determine whether antigen was reduced significantly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was not a statistical difference between bird antigen levels before and after application of tannic acid as compared by paired t test (P = .09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tannic acid is not effective in decreasing bird antigen levels. In patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis or allergic disease to birds, the bird should be removed from the home and environmental cleanup should be undertaken, but tannic acid application is not indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hershey
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salata
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000187:drug effects*; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001717:Birds / Q000276:immunology*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000941:Antigens; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins