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Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology
Published in: Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Usefulness of component resolved analysis of cat allergy in routine clinical practice

Authors: Katharina Eder, Sven Becker, Marion San Nicoló, Alexander Berghaus, Moritz Gröger

Published in: Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Cat allergy is of great importance, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Cat allergens and house dust mite allergens represent the major indoor allergens; however, they are ubiquitous. Cat sensitization and allergy are known risk factors for rhinitis, bronchial hyperreactivity and asthma. Thus, the diagnosis of sensitization to cats is important for any allergist.

Methods

70 patients with positive skin prick tests for cats were retrospectively compared regarding their skin prick test results, as well as their specific immunoglobulin E antibody profiles with regard to their responses to the native cat extract, rFel d 1, nFel d 2 and rFel d 4. 35 patients were allergic to cats, as determined by positive anamnesis and/or nasal provocation with cat allergens, and 35 patients exhibited clinically non-relevant sensitization, as indicated by negative anamnesis and/or a negative nasal allergen challenge.

Results

Native cat extract serology testing detected 100% of patients who were allergic to cats but missed eight patients who showed sensitization in the skin prick test and did not have allergic symptoms. The median values of the skin prick test, as well as those of the specific immunoglobulin E antibodies against the native cat extract, were significantly higher for allergic patients than for patients with clinically non-relevant sensitization. Component based diagnostic testing to rFel d 1 was not as reliable. Sensitization to nFel d 2 and rFel d 4 was seen only in individual patients.

Conclusion

Extract based diagnostic methods for identifying cat allergy and sensitization, such as the skin prick test and native cat extract serology, remain crucial in routine clinical practice. In our study, component based diagnostic testing could not replace these methods with regard to the detection of sensitization to cats and differentiation between allergy and sensitization without clinical relevance. However, component resolved allergy diagnostic tools have individual implications, and future studies may facilitate a better understanding of its use and subsequently may improve the clinical management of allergic patients.
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Metadata
Title
Usefulness of component resolved analysis of cat allergy in routine clinical practice
Authors
Katharina Eder
Sven Becker
Marion San Nicoló
Alexander Berghaus
Moritz Gröger
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1710-1492
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-016-0163-8

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