title: Impact of age and heterophilic interference on the basal serum tryptase, a risk indication for anaphylaxis, in 1,092 dermatology patients.
abstract: A raised baseline serum tryptase is a risk indicator for anaphylactic reactions, especially in patients with hymenoptera venom allergy. Borderline elevations (> 11.4 μg/l) occur frequently and may necessitate invasive diagnostic procedures to rule out systemic mastocytosis. We retrospectively analysed 1,092 non-mastocytotic patients from our general dermatology clinic with respect to age- and gender-associated effects and investigated the impact of heterophilic antibody interference on the tryptase assay. The results were stratified by gender and five age classes. Sera with raised tryptase (n = 106) were re-tested after pre-incubation with Heterophilic Blocking Tubes (HBT(®), Scantibodies Laboratory; Santee, CA, USA). A significant increase in baseline tryptase was observed with increasing age. Incubation with HBT(®) caused a decline of more than 50% in only one case. In conclusion, older patients showed significantly higher serum tryptase levels and heterophilic interference was of subordinate relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Germany. Schliemann@derma-jena.de
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schliemann
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seyfarth
authors.forename: Uta-Christina
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Hipler
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elsner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000097:blood*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053802:Tryptases / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D001514:Bee Venoms; D015415:Biomarkers; D053802:Tryptases