Analysis of the serum levels of fungi-specific immunoglobulin E in patients with allergic diseases.
BACKGROUND
Atopic patients are exceptionally sensitive to airborne allergens. Sensitization to fungal allergens may be associated with respiratory allergic disease (RAD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). This study investigates the relationship between sensitization to different fungal allergens and the clinical manifestations of atopic disease.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of atopic patients from the National Taiwan University Hospital from 2004 to 2009. A total of 133 atopic patients were found who were sensitive to at least 1 of the 3 most common fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium chrysogenum) in Taiwan and were enrolled in the study. These patients were further divided into subgroups of isolated AD, isolated RAD and AD + RAD. The association between sensitization to fungi and allergic disease was analyzed by logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The sensitization rate to Candida-specific IgE was 81.2%, followed closely by Aspergillus at 69.2% and Penicillium at 63.2%. Isolated AD was the most common diagnosis. The levels of specific IgE antibodies against Aspergillus, Candida and Penicillium were highest in patients with isolated AD. Logistic regression revealed that isolated AD was highly associated with sensitization to Candida [odds ratio (OR) 10.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.37-45.9]. In contrast, sensitization to Penicillium (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.87)and Candida (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.92) showed a negative association with isolated RAD.


CONCLUSIONS
Fungal sensitization is more closely associated with AD than RAD. Our results suggest that specific sensitization to fungal allergens plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atopic disease.
Chang
Feng-Ying
FY
Department of Pediatrics, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lee
Jyh-Hong
JH
Yang
Yao-Hsu
YH
Yu
Hsin-Hui
HH
Wang
Li-Chieh
LC
Lin
Yu-Tsan
YT
Chiang
Bor-Luen
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood*; D012882:Skin Tests; D055815:Young Adult
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D007073:Immunoglobulin E