Increase in prevalence of allergy-like respiratory symptoms in IDDM patients contrasting with a decrease in positive skin prick tests.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between allergic symptoms, atopy skin prick test results in type 1 diabetic patients and in non diabetic controls.


METHODS
50 type 1 diabetic patients and 50 healthy control subjects were evaluated for allergic disorders with regard to medical history. All persons were skin-prick-tested for atopic sensitization with a common panel of inhalant and food allergens.


RESULTS
Although in the diabetic group 56% of the patients reported allergy-like respiratory symptoms, only 22% were found to have positive skin tests. In the control group 22% had allergic complaints and skin prick tests were positive in 34% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Nasal and bronchial allergy-like symptoms were increased in IDDM patients in comparison to a control population. However there was a small decrease (not significant) in prevalence of positive atopy skin tests in diabetic patients in comparison to controls. This suggests that IDDM patients have an important load of allergy-like symptoms that are not linked to an IgE sensitization.
Erdenen
Füsun
F
Ministry of Health Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul.
Altungolu
Esma
E
Boz
Mustafa
M
Celik
Serap
S
Ozbal
Nurcan
N
Lehners
Christiane
C
Hentges
François
F
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000009:adverse effects*