title: Decreased Serum Epinephrine in Children With Positive Skin Prick Test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between catecholamine levels and skin prick test results among children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred eight first grade children from one elementary school were invited to participate in this study. Skin prick test (SPT) for six allergens (2 house dust mites, cat, dog, mugwort, and pollen mixture) was performed, and patient demographic information was recorded. The parents were surveyed using questionnaires about rhinitis-related symptoms. Finally, venous blood sampling was done to measure catecholamine levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) by high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 208 children, 174 (106 boys and 68 girls) enrolled in this study. Ninety-six of the children (55%) had negative SPT (nonsensitization group), while 78 (45%) had a positive SPT to at least one of six allergens (sensitization group). The diagnosis of chronic rhinitis was more prevalent in the sensitization group (35.9%) than nonsensitization group (26.0%), however the finding was not significant (P=0.186). Epinephrine levels were decreased between the sensitization group compared to the nonsensitization group (P=0.004). There was no difference in norepinephrine and dopamine levels (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epinephrine levels are lower in children with positive SPT compared to controls, however, the level of the catecholamine was not associated with the presence or absence of rhinitis symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sochung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Neodin Medical Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Tae
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Kook
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Allergic Rhinitis; Child; Epinephrine; Skin Tests