BACKGROUND The diagnostic accuracy of the skin prick test (SPT) for food allergies remains to be fully accepted and substantial individual differences in the prevalence of skin test reactivity have been reported. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of absolute wheal size and skin index (SI; ratio of food allergen-induced wheal to histamine-induced wheal) accordi...

Results Suppression of wheal responses was significant following antihistamine up to 20hr for both HPC and most allergens (15% to 70% wheal size in mm). 1mg/mL histamine appeared negative in some cases under suppression when the 6mg/mL histamine was positive. The lowered wheal size persisted in some subjects up to 72 hrs. Even though the HPC did not appear to be suppressed at some times followi...

BACKGROUND Skin prick test (SPT) is a common test for diagnosing immunoglobulin E-mediated allergies. In clinical routine, technicalities, human errors or patient-related biases, occasionally results in suboptimal diagnosis of sensitization. OBJECTIVE Although not previously assessed qualitatively, lancet weight is hypothesized to be important when performing SPT to minimize the frequency of ...

air pollutants are reported to increase the specific ige response to allergens. to study allergen proteins and determine the effect of air pollutants on the allergenic potential of pollen extracts, the extracts were injected intraperitoneally and subcutaneously in guinea pigs. the results were analyzed by skin prick test (spt), elisa and sds-page followed by immunoblotting. the pollen extract o...

BACKGROUND Peanut allergenicity has been reported to be influenced by heat treatment, yet the commonly available extracts for skin prick testing (SPT) are derived from raw extracts. OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of heat treatment on the SPT reactivity and specific IgE binding to peanut. METHODS Three commercial extracts and 3 laboratory-prepared extracts, including raw, roasted, and boiled...

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DPT) subcutaneous immunotherapy in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients. PATIENTS & METHODS This 17-week double-blind study randomized 136 patients (95 evaluable) to five dose groups of DPT depot extract (0.0625-0.75 skin prick test [SPT] units) or placebo, administered in a six updosing schedule. RESULTS A dose-response was o...

BACKGROUND Immune responses in allergic diseases begin with allergen sensitization, which usually occurs in childhood. Allergen sensitization involves a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, and sensitization patterns may change with age. OBJECTIVE To determine the predictors of allergen sensitization in the first 3 years of life in the growing up in Singapore towards health...

BACKGROUND Ethyl-chloride (EC) spray was recently shown to be an effective antipruritic agent, when given 15 min after histamine skin-prick test (SPT), without changing the wheal and flare reaction. We aimed to investigate the antipruritic effect of EC on SPT, when given prior to SPT. METHODS A double-blind placebo-controlled prospective study. Overall, 44 volunteers underwent histamine SPT o...

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) is a clinical syndrome associated with immune sensitivity to various fungi. Aspergillus spp. predominates in colonizing the airways of asthmatics. Early and accurate identification fungus such cases can prevent worsening asthma. Also, help retarding progression ABPM. Objectives this study were evaluate different fungal allergens clinically di...

Background: The role of food allergy in atopic dermatitis (AD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of food allergens in children with AD. Method: Fifty one atopic dermatitis children aged 6 months to 5 years entered our study. The severity of AD was determined by scoring index of AD (SCORAD). Skin prick test (SPT) was done using 15 allergens including the whit...