The importance of in vitro component-resolved diagnosis in paediatric patients

• Published in: Allergologia et immunopathologia Vol. 38; no. 1; p. 37
• Main Authors: Goikoetxea, M J, Cabrera-Freitag, P, Sanz, M L, Fernández-Benítez, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 01-01-2010
• Subjects: Allergens - immunology; Allergens - isolation & purification; Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Child; Child, Preschool; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus - immunology; Desensitization, Immunologic; Diagnosis, Differential; Food Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Food Hypersensitivity - etiology; Fruit - adverse effects; Humans; Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Hypersensitivity - etiology; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Latex Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Male; Microarray Analysis; Pollen - adverse effects; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - etiology; Respiratory Hypersensitivity - therapy; Shellfish - adverse effects; Skin Tests
• ISSN: 0301-0546
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2009.11.001

In recent years, thanks to advances in molecular biology, allergological diagnosis has improved and specific IgE (sIgE) against an allergenic source has been transformed into sIgE against an allergenic protein or glycoprotein. This change, which has resulted in a more precise diagnosis of sensitisation, could explain the different dangers of certain molecular sensitisations and in many cases cross-reactivity phenomena, and could change indications for immunotherapy or clinical management. Here, we present two cases of children where the indication for immunotherapy and management of the disorder changed due to component-resolved diagnosis. However, the clinical history and skin prick tests should complement molecular in vitro diagnosis to improve routine clinical practice.