title: Basophil activation test with food additives in chronic urticaria patients.
abstract: The role of food additives in chronic urticaria (CU) is still under investigation. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between food additives and CU by using the basophil activation test (BAT). The BAT using 15 common food additives was performed for 15 patients with CU who had a history of recurrent urticarial aggravation following intake of various foods without a definite food-specific IgE. Of the 15 patients studied, two (13.3%) showed positive BAT results for one of the tested food additives. One patient responded to monosodium glutamate, showing 18.7% of CD203c-positive basophils. Another patient showed a positive BAT result to sodium benzoate. Both patients had clinical correlations with the agents, which were partly determined by elimination diets. The present study suggested that at least a small proportion of patients with CU had symptoms associated with food additives. The results may suggest the potential utility of the BAT to identity the role of food additives in CU.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors: Min-Gyu
authors: MG
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Woo-Jung
authors: WJ
authors: Song
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Han-Ki
authors: HK
authors: Park
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors: Kyung-Hwan
authors: KH
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Su-Jung
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Suh-Young
authors: SY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors: Sae-Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang-Heon
authors: SH
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung-Up
authors: KU
authors: Min
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center 110-744, Seoul, Korea. ; Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 463-707, Korea.
authors: Yoon-Seok
authors: 0000-0003-3157-0447
authors: YS
authors: Chang
keywords: Basophil activation test; Food additives; Hypersensitivity; Monosodium glutamate; Sodium benzoate; Urticaria