The diagnostic value of APT for food allergy in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol
; 30(4): 451-461, 2019 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30703250
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The role of atopy patch test (APT) in the diagnosis of food allergy (FA) remains largely controversial. In our meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of APT for diagnosing FA in children.METHODS:
Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for studies regarding the diagnostic value of APT for FA in children compared to oral food challenge (double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge and/or open food challenge). The last search was conducted on November 11, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened relevant studies and assessed the quality by QUADAS-2. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR (diagnostic odds ratio), PLR (positive likelihood ratio), NLR (negative likelihood ratio) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted according to different food allergens, atopic dermatitis, gastrointestinal symptoms, and age younger than 3 years.RESULTS:
Forty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR and DOR were 50.30% (95% CI 48.40%-52.30%), 86.60% (95% CI 85.30%-87.80%), 3.405 (95% CI 2.594-4.470), 0.545 (95% CI 0.469-0.634) and 7.528 (95% CI 5.507-11.206), respectively. However, for children with FA-related gastrointestinal symptoms, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 57.40% (95% CI 52.10%-62.50%) and 91.50% (95% CI 88.30%-94.10%) respectively.CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings suggest that APT is specific but not sensitive for diagnosing FA in children, especially in children with FA-related gastrointestinal symptoms.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Patch Tests
/
Food Hypersensitivity
/
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Pediatr Allergy Immunol
Journal subject:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
/
PEDIATRIA
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China