Incidence of allergen specific IgE in atopic dermatitis patients by immunoblot assay

ABSTRACT

To determine the incidence of allergens specific IgE by immunoblot assay in atopic dermatitis patients. Prospective study. South Riyadh, Dermatology clinic Alfalah International Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Sixty-five adult patients and twenty volunteer controls sera were collected from atopic dermatitis patients. IgE antibodies specific to allergens of food, pollens, animal epithelia, house dust mites, and moulds were determined using an immunoblot assay. The sensitization rate of all allergens was found to be 65% [42/65; 26 males, 39 females]. The subjects were most commonly allergic to pollen [35.2%], food [31.5%] and animal epithelial dander [21.0%]. House dust mite [11.4%] and mould [0.9%] were less frequent than the others were. The result indicates that pollen allergens, food allergens, animal epithelia and dander should be taken into account as possible exacerbating factors in adult patients with AD within the specific geographical area studied