Aim of the work. To evaluate the prevalence of increased tryptase levels and allergen specific IgE in the case of anaphylaxis.
The objectives of the work were to evaluate changes of tryptase and allergen specific IgE prevalence among the subject groups and to assess the links between al lergen spe cific IgE prevalence and increased tryptase concentration.
Methods. Venous blood serum samples from Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos adult patients (N=60) were studied. The subjects were grouped according to diagnosis and tryptase levels: group I - patients with anaphylaxis, group II - patients with mastocytosis, group III - atopic patients. Tryptase concentration was detected by ELISA (ImmunoCAP, ThermoScientific, Finland). Allergen specific IgE assay was carried out by immunoblot (OPTIGEN Panel Allergen Specific IgE Assay Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, Inc., Japan).
Results. Tryptase levels were statistically significantly higher among mastocytosis and anaphylaxis patients when compared to atopic patients with the highest concentration found in the anaphylaxis group. Allergen specific IgE were found in 73% of cases overall, with the incidence being 90% in atopic group, 75% in anaphylaxis group and 55% in mastocytosis group. The most common inhalant allergen specific IgE were against timothy grass (43.2%), birch (25%), cat epithelium (20.5%), dust mite (18.2% of each) and mugwort (15.9%) while specific IgE against peanuts and shrimp (13.6% of each) were the most common among food allergens. Specific IgE against rye, milk and pork were the least common. Sensibilisation to two different allergens was the most common with a statistically significant difference among the groups: 53.3% in anaphylaxis group, 75% in mastocytosis group and 33.3% in atopic group. Statistically significantly more atopic patients (38.9%) were allergic to 4-7 allergens. More frequently specific IgE against inhalant allergens were found in the atopic group (90%), while more specific IgE against food allergens were found in the anaphylaxis group (70%). Statistically significantly more frequent specific IgE were found against peanuts and hazelnuts - groups I and II, against wheat - group II, against cat epithelium and dust mite - group III.
Summarizing conclusion. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that there is no strong link between allergen specific IgE and increased tryptase concentration, i.e. no large differences were found in the prevalence of allergen specific IgE among patients who had suffered from anaphylaxis.
