Usefulness of specific IgE antibodies to ω-5 gliadin in the diagnosis and follow-up of Japanese children with wheat allergy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Gliadins have been implicated in IgE-mediated allergy to ingested wheat. ω-5 gliadin seems to be a clinically relevant allergen component in children with immediate wheat allergy (WA), but contradictory results have been published.

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate whether specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies to recombinant ω-5 gliadin could be used as a marker for oral wheat challenge outcome in wheat-sensitized children and to study whether measurements of sIgE to ω-5 gliadin are useful in monitoring children with WA to assess whether the allergy is outgrown or persistent.

METHODS:

Eighty-eight serum samples from children sensitized to wheat were collected consecutively. sIgE to ω-5 gliadin was related to a physician's diagnosis of WA.

RESULTS:

Sixty-seven of 88 children sensitized to wheat were diagnosed as having WA. The geometric mean concentrations of sIgE to ω-5 gliadin were 2.04 kU(A)/L (range, <0.35-100 kU(A)/L) in children with WA and 0.40 kU(A)/L (range, <0.35-1.8 kU(A)/L) in children without WA. At follow-up, after being on a wheat-free diet for approximately 2 years, the sIgE titers to ω-5 gliadin were below 0.35 kU(A)/L (mean, 0.34 kU(A)/L; range, 0.34-2.3 kU(A)/L) in 10 of 15 children with outgrown WA. Conversely, in 12 of 14 children with persistent WA, the sIgE titers to ω-5 gliadin were still elevated (mean, 5.89 kU(A)/L; range, 0.34-16.3 kU(A)/L).

CONCLUSIONS:

sIgE to ω-5 gliadin can be used as an accurate alternative to potentially dangerous wheat food challenges in monitoring WA.

• Authors: Rumiko Shibata, Sankei Nishima, Akira Tanaka, Magnus P Borres, Eishin Morita
• Journal: Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol) Vol. 107 Issue 4 Pg. 337-43 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1534-4436 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21962094 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Antigens, Plant
• omega-5 gliadin, wheat
• Immunoglobulin E
• Gliadin

Topics

• Allergens (immunology)
• Antibody Specificity
• Antigens, Plant
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gliadin (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood, immunology)
• Infant
• Japan
• Male
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Wheat Hypersensitivity (diagnosis, immunology)