Abstract
Background: Adult onset asthma is a poorly characterized phenotype of asthma. Whereas in childhood-onset asthma food allergies are closely related to the development of asthma (Zeiger JACI 1995), this relationship has never been studied in adult onset asthma. We hypothesize that food allergies are present in adult onset asthma, in particular in patients with high levels of total IgE.
Aim: To investigate the presence of specific IgE antibodies against a panel of common food and aeroallergens in patients with adult onset asthma, and to relate this to clinical, lung function and inflammatory markers.
Methods: In 150 patients (65% female; age 52.3 (±13.5)yr) specific IgE against food allergens (milk, soy, cod, peanut, ovalbumin, wheat), aeroallergens (house dust mite, cat, dog, tree, grass, herbs, mould), total IgE, FeNO and spirometry were cross-sectionally compared between patients with and without (food) allergies.
Results:
Conclusions: 10% of patients with adult onset asthma have food allergies. These patients have higher levels of total IgE and are more often males. This implies that screening for food allergies in patients with adult onset asthma and high levels of IgE is warranted.
- © 2011 ERS
