RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Allergy markers in respiratory epidemiology
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 773
OP 790
DO 10.1183/09031936.01.17407730
VO 17
IS 4
A1 S. Baldacci
A1 E. Omenaas
A1 M.P. Oryszczyn
YR 2001
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/17/4/773.abstract
AB Assessing allergy by measurement of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies is fast and safe to perform. Serum antibodies can preferably be assessed in patients with dermatitis and in those who regularly use antihistamines and other pharmacological agents that reduce skin sensitivity.Skin tests represent the easiest tool to obtain quick and reliable information for the diagnosis of respiratory allergic diseases. It is the technique more widely used, specific and reasonably sensitive for most applications as a marker of atopy.Measurement of serum IgE antibodies and skin-prick testing may give complimentary information and can be applied in clinical and epidemiological settings.Peripheral blood eosinophilia is less used, but is important in clinical practice to demonstrate the allergic aetiology of disease, to monitor its clinical course and to address the choice of therapy. In epidemiology, hypereosinophilia seems to reflect an inflammatory reaction in the airways, which may be linked to obstructive airflow limitation.