title: Basophil Activation Test in the diagnosis and monitoring of mastocytosis patients with wasp venom allergy.
abstract: Background: There is need for an accurate diagnostic test in mastocytosis patients with wasp venom allergy (WVA) and monitoring of these patients during immunotherapy (IT). In this study, we aimed to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of the Basophil Activation Test (BAT) as a diagnostic and monitoring test in patients with mastocytosis and WVA. Methods: Seventeen patients with mastocytosis and WVA and 6 mastocytosis patients without WVA were included. BAT was performed before the start of IT (1stvisit) and at 6 weeks (2ndvisit) and 1 year (3rdvisit), after reaching the maintenance dose. Of 17 patients included, 11 complerted the 3rdvisit.In mastocytosis patients with WVA, dose-dependent wasp-venom induced upregulation of CD63 and CD203c expression on basophils was observed compared to mastocytosis patients without WVA. Serum specific IgE, IgG4 and tryptase levels were measured in all patients. Results: BAT had a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 100% in diagnosing WVA in mastocytosis patients. Basophil allergen threshold sensitivity with respect to CD63 and CD203c was significantly decreased in the second visit compared to the first visit and increased significantly in the third visit compared to the second visit. Specific IgE levels increased significantly in the 2nd visit compared to first and decreased significantly in the third visti compared to the second. Specific IgG4 levels rose significantly in the 2ndvisit compared to the 1stand on the 3rdvisit compared to the 2nd. Tryptase levels did not change significantly during the study. Conclusions: BAT can represent a diagnostic test in allergic patients with mastocytosis and these patients are better to be monitored for a longer period during IT. © 2013 Clinical Cytometry Society.
authors: Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Laboratory of Allergology and Pulmonary Diseases, Dept of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Bidad
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Nawijn
authors: A J M
authors: AJ
authors: van Oosterhout
authors: S
authors: S
authors: van der Heide
authors: J N G Oude
authors: JN
authors: Elberink
keywords: Basophil Activation Test; Immunotherapy; Mastocytosis; Wasp Venom Allergy