title: Limited role of allergy testing in patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergies have been implicated in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, although it remains unknown what type of allergen is closely associated with their development. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible involvement of food and/or aeroallergen factors in eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), 23 with eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), and 28 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The levels of total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and 33 different allergen-specific IgE antibodies, including those for six foods used in a standard EoE elimination diet, were determined in each subject. Serum antigen-specific IgE levels were measured using a chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay with a multiple antigen simultaneous test 33 (MAST33). The expression patterns of specific antigens were compared among the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean level of total IgE antibodies was significantly higher in patients with EGE (553.6 ± 115.3 IU/mL) than the healthy volunteers (230.6 ± 87.1 IU/mL). Two thirds of all subjects had sensitivity to at least one inhaled antigen. In positive cases, allergies against multiple antigens were more frequently seen in the EoE and EGE patients. Japanese cedar and dust mite aeroallergens were more prevalent than food antigens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with higher levels of serum total IgE antibodies, patients with EoE and EGE were frequently sensitized to several different allergens. Reactions to aeroallergens were more prevalent in these groups, although no particular antigen causing EoE and/or EGE was detected by measuring serum antigen-specific IgE antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan. ishimura@med.shimane-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishimura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D028203:Cedrus / Q000276:immunology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000939:Epitopes; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: allergens; eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders; immunoglobulin E; serum antigen-specific IgE