title: The performance of a component-based allergen microarray for the diagnosis of kiwifruit allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergy to kiwifruit is increasingly reported across Europe. Currently, the reliability of its diagnosis by the measurement of allergen-specific IgE with extracts or by skin testing with fresh fruits is unsatisfying.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of a component-based allergen microarray for the diagnosis of kiwifruit allergy in a large group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  With an allergen microarray, we measured specific IgE and IgG4 levels to a panel of nine kiwifruit allergens in sera of 237 individuals with kiwifruit allergy. Sera from 198 allergic patients without kiwifruit allergy served as controls. Furthermore, we determined the extent of sensitization to latex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The panel of kiwifruit allergens showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 66%, a specificity of 56% and a positive predictive value of 73%. Sera from kiwifruit-allergic patients contained significantly more frequently Act d 1-specific IgE than sera from control patients. Furthermore, 51% of the positive sera contained IgE directed to a single allergen, namely Act d 1 (45%), Act d 9 (27%) or Act d 7 (13%). Within the control group, 36% sera recognized a single allergen. Out of those, 48% were positive to the cross-reactive glycoallergen Act d 7, 43% to the profilin Act d 9 and only 5% to Act d 1. Allergen-specific IgG4 levels did not differ between kiwifruit-allergic and -tolerant patients. Kiwifruit- and latex-allergic patients contained Hev b 11-specific IgE significantly more frequently than latex-allergic patients without kiwifruit allergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Act d 1 can be considered a marker allergen for genuine sensitization to kiwifruit. We demonstrated that a component-based kiwifruit allergen microarray would improve the prognostic value of in vitro diagnostic tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bublin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dennstedt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchegger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonietta Ciardiello
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tuppo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harwanegg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ballmer-Weber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knulst
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoffmann-Sommergruber
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Radauer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breiteneder
mesh_terms: D029042:Actinidia / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C018745:actinidain