title: Analysis of feline and canine allergen components in patients sensitized to pets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Component resolved allergen diagnosis allows for a precise evaluation of the sensitization profiles of patients sensitized to felines and canines. An accurate interpretation of these results allows better insight into the evolution of a given patients sensitizations, and allows for a more precise evaluation of their prognoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  70 patients (42 women and 28 men, aged 18-65, with the average of 35.5) with a positive feline or canine allergy diagnosis were included in the research group. 30 patients with a negative allergy diagnosis were included in the control group. The total IgE levels of all patients with allergies as well as their allergen-specific IgE to feline and canine allergens were measured. Specific IgE levels to canine (Can f 1, Can f 2, Can f 3, Can f 5) and feline (Fel d 1, Fel d 2, Fel d 4) allergen components were also measured with the use of the ImmunoCap method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monosensitization for only one canine or feline component was found in 30% of patients. As predicted, the main feline allergen was Fel d 1, which sensitized as many as 93.9% of patients sensitized to felines. Among 65 patients sensitized to at least one feline component, for 30 patients (46.2%) the only sensitizing feline component was Fel d 1. Only 19 patients in that group (63.3%) were not simultaneously sensitized to dogs and 11 (36.7%), the isolated sensitization to feline Fel d 1 notwithstanding, displayed concurrent sensitizations to one of the canine allergen components. Fel d 4 sensitized 49.2% of the research group.64.3% of patients sensitized to canine components had heightened levels of specific IgE to Can f 1. Monosensitization in that group occurred for 32.1% of the patients. Sensitization to Can f 5 was observed among 52.4% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrent sensitizations to a few allergic components, not only cross-reactive but also originating in different protein families, are a significant problem for patients sensitized to animals.
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ukleja-Sokołowska
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gawrońska-Ukleja
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Żbikowska-Gotz
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Socha
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lis
authors.affiliation: Division of Ergonomics and Exercise Physiology, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. M. Curie Skłodowskiej 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Sokołowski
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuźmiński
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Diseases, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, NCU, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bartuzi
keywords: Albumin; Allergen components; Cat; Dog; Fel d 1; IgE; Lipocalin