The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases and Allied Sciences

Register      Login

VOLUME 57 , ISSUE 2 ( April-June, 2015 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

A Comparative Study of Skin Prick Test versus Serum-Specific IgE Measurement in Indian Patients with Bronchial Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis

Raj Kumar, Nitesh Gupta, Jayesh Kanuga, Mansi Kanuga

Keywords : Allergy, Asthma, Rhinitis, Serum specific IgE, Skin prick test

Citation Information : Kumar R, Gupta N, Kanuga J, Kanuga M. A Comparative Study of Skin Prick Test versus Serum-Specific IgE Measurement in Indian Patients with Bronchial Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2015; 57 (2):81-85.

DOI: 10.5005/ijcdas-57-2-81

License: NA

Published Online: 17-06-2015

Copyright Statement:  NA


Abstract

Background: Skin prick testing (SPT) is the ‘gold standard’ in the assessment of allergic sensitivity to inhalant allergens. Serum-specific immunoglobulin E (SSIgE) measurement is a complementary test. SPT is performed with antigen extracts from India while SSIgE utilises extracts derived from European antigens. Objective: To evaluate the performance of allergic assessment by SSIgE against cockroach, housefly and mosquito aeroallergens which are frequently implicated in driving respiratory allergies in India considering SPT as the ‘gold standard’. Methods: Twenty patients (mean age 28.5 years; range 15-50 years) diagnosed to have bronchial asthma and/or rhinitis underwent SPT. The SSIgE levels were obtained at the same visit. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of SSIgE testing were calculated using SPT as the ‘gold standard’. The correlation between SPT grading and SSIgE levels was also evaluated. Results: The sensitivity of SSIgE testing to each of the 3 aero-allergens was >85%. The PPV of cockroach and mosquito SSIgE was >85%; housefly SSIgE had PPV of 68.7%. The two tests were in agreement in 85% (cockroach), 90% (mosquito) and 55% (housefly). There was a significant correlation between the grades of SPT reactions and SSIgE levels. Conclusions: The SSIgE has higher sensitivity and PPV, but lacks specificity. Higher sensitivity with low specificity leads to increased false positive diagnosis of allergic disease. Unlike allergenic pollens, however, insect antigen extracts from different regions seem to give comparable results, and can thus, reliably be used in the evaluation of allergy.


PDF Share
  1. Collins-Williams C, Bremner K. Comparison of skin tests and RAST in the diagnosis of atopic hypersensitivity. Ann Allergy 1976;36:161-4.
  2. Bernstein IL, Li JT, Bernstein DI, Hamilton R, Spector SL, Tan R, et al. Allergy diagnostic testing: an updated practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008;100:S1-148.
  3. Droste JH, Kerhof M, de Monchy JG, Schouten JP, Rijcken B. Association of skin test reactivity, specific IgE, total IgE, and eosinophils with nasal symptoms in a communitybased population study. The Dutch ECRHS Group. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996;97:922-32.
  4. Calabria CW, Dietrich J, Hagan L. Comparison of serumspecific IgE (ImmunoCAP) and skin-prick test results for 53 inhalant allergens in patients with chronic rhinitis. Allergy Asthma Proc 2009;30:386-96.
  5. Cox L, Nelson H, Lockey R, Calabria C, Chacko T, Finegold I, et al. Allergen immunotherapy: a practice parameter third update. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2011;127:S1-55.
  6. GINA Report, Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention [Internet]. [place unknown] The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA); 2009 May [updated 2010 Jan 12, cited 2010 Aug 23]. Available from URL: http://www.ginasthma.com/ Guidelineitem.asp??l1=2&l2=1&intId=1561. Accessed on May 18, 2015.
  7. Bousquet J, Bieber T, Fokkens W, Humbert M, Kowalski ML, Niggemann B, et al. Consensus statements, evidence-based medicine and guidelines in allergic diseases. Allergy 2008;63:1-4.
  8. Gaur SN, Singh BP, Singh AB, Vijayan VK, Agarwal MK. Guidelines for practice of allergen immunotherapy in India. Indian J Allergy Asthma Applied Immunol 2009;23:1-20.
  9. Selner JC, Sullivan TJ, Ahlstedt S, Claman HN, Dolen WK, Nelson HS, et al. Current issue relating to in vitro testing for allergen-specific IgE: a workshop report. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1999;82:407-12
  10. De Lucca SD, Taylor DJ, O'Meara TJ, Jones AS, Tovey ER. Measurement and characterization of cocroach allergens detected during normal domestic activity. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:672-80.
  11. Eggleston PA, Rosenstreich D, Lynn H, Gergen P, Baker D, Kattan M, et al. Relationship of indoor allergen exposure to skin test sensitivity in inner-city children with asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;102:563-70.
  12. Lopes MI, Miranda PJ, Sarinho E. Use of the skin prick test and specific immunoglobulin E for the diagnosis of cockroach allergy. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2006;82:204-9.
  13. Addo-Yobo EO, Custovic A, Taggart SC, Craven M, Bonnie B, Woodcock A. Risk factors for asthma in urban Ghana. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:363-8.
  14. Agarwal MK, Chaudhry S, Jhamb S, Gaur SN, Chauhan UPS, Agarwal HC. Etiologic significance of mosquito (Anopheles stephensi) in respiratory allergy in India. Ann Allergy 1991;67:598-602.
  15. Peng Z, Estelle F, Simons R. Cross-reactivity of skin and serum specific IgE responses and allergen analysis for three mosquito species with worldwide distribution. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;100:192-8.
  16. Kausar MA, Vijayan VK, Bansal SK, Menon BK, Vermani M, Agarwal MK. Mosquitoes as sources of inhalant allergens: clinicoimmunologic and biochemical studies. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007;120:1219-21.
  17. Smith TS, Hogan MB, Welch JE, Corder WT, Wilson NW. Modern prevalence of insect sensitization in rural asthma and allergic rhinitis patients. Allergy Asthma Proc 2005;26:356-60.
  18. Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, BernsteinDI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, Khan DA, et al. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008;122:S1-84.
  19. Mari A, Iacovacci P, Afferni C, Barletta B, Tinghino R, Di Felice G, et al. Specific IgE to cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants strongly affect the in vitro diagnosis of allergic diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:1005-11.
  20. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The use of standardized allergen extracts. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:583-6.
  21. Yunginger JW, Ahlstedt S, Eggleston PA, Homburguer HA, Nelson HS, Ownby DR, et al. Quantitative IgE antibody assays in allergic diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;105: 1077-84.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.