Serum Specific IgE to Egg White, Cow's Milk, Soybean in the Children with Atopic Dermatitis

Jung, Jin A; Lee, Ju Suk; Lee, Sang Il

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The role of food allergy in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) has been emphasized. Eggs, cow's milk, soybeans are most common food allergens. We evaluated the serum specific IgE to egg whites (EW), cow's milk (CM), soybeans, and their clinical significance. METHODS: We performed a study with 1, 321 patients (male 739, female 582) who visited Samsung Medical Center during June 1998 and March 2002. We divided them into 9 groups by age. The serum total IgE and specific IgE to EW, CM, and soybeans were measured by Pharmacia AutoCAP system RAST (R) FEIA. RESULTS: The geometric mean of serum total IgE was increased with age (P< 0.05). EW (27.4%) was the most commonly sensitized food allergen in these subjects (P< 0.05), followed by CM (16.1%), and soybeans (8.1%). 37.2% of patients who are younger than 1-year-old showed positive reactions to EW. Reaction rate for this group was higher than others (P< 0.05). The positive reactions to EW were decreased with age (P< 0.05). But, the positive reactions to CM and soybeans did not show any relations to the age. The positive reactions to EW for 4-year-olds and younger were higher than those to CM and soybeans (P< 0.05). 30.7% of patients who had positive reactions to EW, especially 44.3% in age group 1-year-olds and younger (P< 0.05), showed higher specific IgE levels than diagnostic decision points of specific IgE to EW. CONCLUSION: The children with atopic dermatitis, especially young children, have high level of positive responses to egg whites, cow's milk. Sometimes they have serum specific IgE higher than diagnostic decision point. We think that young children with atopic dermatitis are more frequently related to egg and milk allergy.