Usefulness of the MAST in Allergic Skin Diseases

Jung, Hye Jung; Park, Mi Youn; Youn, Jai Il; Ahn, Ji Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Allergic skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and urticaria are known to be mediated by IgE. It is important to confirm a causative allergen for diagnosis and treatment. The multiple allergosorbent test (MAST) is a simple method for simultaneously measuring total and allergen-specific IgE.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze results from the MAST, which measures total and specific IgE, and to compare the different results.
METHODS
We reviewed the MAST results of 270 allergic disease patients tested between June 2007 and May 2012.
RESULTS
There were statistical differences in total IgE production and in positive sensitization to specific allergens between the disease groups. The level of total IgE and positive rates of specific IgE were highest in atopic dermatitis patients, followed by urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, and pruritus patients. Atopic dermatitis patients had significantly more allergens than those with other diseases. There were no statistical differences in total IgE level, rates of positive sensitization to specific allergens, and the number of causative allergens between the patients with acute and chronic urticaria.
CONCLUSION
Each disease showed a different IgE pattern. Atopic dermatitis showed the highest level of serum IgE. There were no differences in IgE levels between acute and chronic urticaria patients. We identified an increase in IgE level in allergic contact dermatitis patients. Further study is needed to determine whether these patterns could be useful in diagnosis and choice of treatment methods.