ORIGINAL PAPER
Diagnostic accuracy of specific IgE antibodies measurements in occupational airway allergy to high molecular weight agents
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Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Zdrowia Środowiskowego, Oddział Chorób Zawodowych / Department of Occupational Diseases
and Environmental Health, Department of Occupational Diseases)
Online publication date: 2017-02-15
Corresponding author
Marta Wiszniewska
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera,
Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Zdrowia Środowiskowego, Oddział Chorób Zawodowych, ul. św. Teresy 8, 91-348 Łódź
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2017;68(1):31-43
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ABSTRACT
Background: The performance of specific inhalation challenge test (SICT) – reference method in diagnostics of occupational allergy
– has some limitations due to health status of a particular patient. Therefore, it is extremely important to identify usefulness
of other tests, and the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of commercially available serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) kits to
the most common high molecular weight agents has been launched. Material and Methods: The study group comprised 141 subjects
– 110 bakers and 31 farmers – with suspicion of occupational airway allergy. All patients underwent evaluation of serum sIgE
to occupational allergens with the use of Phadia and Allergopharma kits: in bakers to flour mix and α-amylase, in farmers to
epithelium of cow, pig and feathers. Specific inhalation challenge test with workplace allergens performed in all subjects was
a reference method for further analysis. Results: Serum specific IgE to flour mix had the highest sensitivity (Phadia – 95.6%,
Allergopharma – 88.3%), while its specificity was relatively low (Phadia – 47.8%, Allergopharma – 25%). There were numerous
discrepancies between the results of sIgE estimation for particular single allergens (k87, e4, e83), as well as for their mixtures
(fx901, fx20, ex71), performed with the kits of both companies (Phadia vs. Allergopharma). Conclusions: Evaluation of serum
specific IgE is characterized by inadequate sensitivity, specificity and predictive value to take the place of specific inhalation challenge
test in diagnostics of occupational respiratory allergy. Med Pr 2017;68(1):31–43