title: Cross-sectional study on allergic sensitization of Austrian adolescents using molecule-based IgE profiling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergen-specific IgE antibodies are a hallmark of type I allergy. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the sensitization profiles of an Austrian adolescent population utilizing molecule-based IgE diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples of 501 nonselected pupils from Salzburg, Austria, were tested in ImmunoCAP ISAC®for IgE reactivity to 112 single allergens. Sensitization profiles were assessed and statistically coordinated with reported allergies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the population aged 12-21 years, 53.5% showed IgE reactivity to at least one allergen tested. The highest prevalence was found for Phl p 1 from grass pollen (26.5%), group 2 mite allergens (18.2%), Bet v 1 from birch pollen (16.3%) and Fel d 1 from cat (14.4%). The majority of participants showed a complex sensitization profile and reacted on average to 9 allergens. Pollen sensitization was highly prevalent (41.7%) and mainly driven by group I grass and PR-10 allergens of the Betulaceae family, while Pla l 1 represented the most relevant weed. Diagnosed and self-reported allergies were noted in 21.9% and 45.5% of participants, respectively, and correlated well with in vitro results. Among atopic individuals, 71.4% reported to suffer from at least one allergy; concordance was found for grass and cat sensitization, while venom- and weed pollen-positive individuals were frequently asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than half of the tested adolescent population had already established an atopic status presenting a complex IgE reactivity profile dominated by pollen sensitization. Detailed molecule-based analysis allows determining relevant biomarkers and monitoring of the atopic status in populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stemeseder
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klinglmayr
authors.affiliation: School of Education, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.|TUM School of Education, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.|Biomedical Sciences, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Puch, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lueftenegger
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Himly
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Puch, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Oostingh
authors.affiliation: School of Education, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zumbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bathke
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hawranek
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gadermaier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: IgE; allergen microarray; epidemiology; molecule-based diagnosis; sensitization