title: Prevalence of sensitization to inhaled and food allergens in a group of children with primary renal tubular acidosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some reports associate certain illnesses of the urinary system with allergies. Thus, we decided to examine the prevalence of sensitization to allergens in a group of children with primary renal tubular acidosis (RTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with primary RTA who attended the nephrology department at a third level pediatric hospital during a four-month period, were included. With informed parental consent, a questionnaire and skin prick test, total IgE, specific IgE and milk precipitins were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three children were included, aged 5 months to 9 years (mean, 3.4 ± 1.8 years), and a male/female ratio of 1.7:1. The age of onset of ATR ranged from 2 to 18 months. The most common symptoms at the beginning of disease were: failure to thrive and lack of appetite. Twenty-one parents (48.8%) noticed an association between the introduction of cow´s milk and the beginning of symptoms. Skin tests were positive in 27.9%. Total IgE levels were elevated in 34.9%, ranged from 5.9 to 324 IU/mL. Allergen-specific IgE was positive in 25.6%, mainly for milk, wheat and egg white. The milk precipitins test was positive in 9 patients (21%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study demonstrated the existence of allergen  sensitization in a group of children with RTA, it is necessary to look for this association in studies with larger sample size and to use tests with higher specificity and sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Nefrólogo Pediatra. Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, SSA. México, D.F.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bojórquez-Ochoa
authors.forename: Blanca María
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Morfín-Maciel
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Caballero
authors.forename: Trinidad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaltzman-Girsevich
mesh_terms: D000141:Acidosis, Renal Tubular; D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D015995:Prevalence; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E