Special consideration is required for the component-resolved diagnosis of egg allergy in infants.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There are few reports regarding differences in reactivity to the major egg allergens according to children's age, although component-resolved diagnosis is gradually being used.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate differences in reactivity to major egg allergens among various age groups of children with egg allergy.

METHODS:

Twenty-seven patients diagnosed with egg allergy were included. Egg allergy was defined as a convincing history of reproducible symptoms within 2 hours of egg consumption and an egg white-specific IgE level of at least 0.35 kUA/L. Patients were divided into 3 age groups: younger than 12 months (group A, 7 subjects), 12 to 23 months (group B, 8 subjects), and at least 24 months (group C, 12 subjects). Immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay investigated IgE reactivity toward ovalbumin, ovomucoid, and ovotransferrin in eggs.

RESULTS:

Immunoblotting analysis showed that all patients in group A reacted to ovalbumin, whereas reactions to other proteins were not detected. All patients in group B displayed a reaction to ovalbumin and ovomucoid. IgE binding to ovotransferrin was shown in 3 patients in group B. All patients in group C displayed reactivity to ovalbumin, 5 patients showed a reaction to ovomucoid, and 8 patients displayed a reaction to ovotransferrin. As a patient's age increased, specific IgE binding to ovalbumin and ovotransferrin increased (P = .011 and .004).

CONCLUSION:

IgE reactivity to egg allergens differs according to children's ages.

• Authors: Jihyun Kim, Jeongok Lee, Mi-Ran Park, Youngshin Han, Meeyong Shin, Kangmo Ahn
• Journal: Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol) Vol. 112 Issue 1 Pg. 53-7 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1534-4436 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24331394 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Conalbumin
• Ovomucin
• Immunoglobulin E
• Ovalbumin

Topics

• Allergens (immunology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Conalbumin (immunology)
• Egg Hypersensitivity (diagnosis)
• Eggs (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood, immunology)
• Infant
• Male
• Ovalbumin (immunology)
• Ovomucin (immunology)