The impact of age on serum allergen-specific IgE to inhaled molecular components

Publication date: Available online 31 January 2017
Source:Allergologia et Immunopathologia
Author(s): M.A. Tosca, M. Silvestri, R. Olcese, A. Pistorio, G.A. Rossi, G. Ciprandi
BackgroundRespiratory allergy is characterised by an IgE-mediated reaction. The immune system functions, including IgE production, progressively decline over time, such as growing up and ageing. Molecular-based allergy diagnostic defines sensitisation profile. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of age on serum allergen-specific IgE to molecular component levels in a large sample of subjects.MethodsSerum IgE to: Phl p1, Bet v1, Ole e1, Cup a1, Par j2, Can f1, Der p2, and Fel d1 were assessed by ISAC method. Sera from 2788 patients, 1230 males (44.1%) and 1558 females (55.9%), median age 23 years (1st and 3rd quartiles: 9.7–49.7 years; age range: 1 month–103 years) were analysed.ResultsThe number of positive tests (i.e. sensitisation) tended to increase between birth and school-age till young adulthood and then decreased (p<0.0001) with the exception of Fel d 1 (p=0.14). A similar age-dependent trend was observed considering the levels of each allergen components: the levels of each allergen component, with the exception of Fel d 1, tended to increase till early adulthood and then to decrease reaching the lowest levels in the elderly.ConclusionsAllergen-specific IgE production to inhaled molecular components trend to reduce with ageing, but with differences between allergens. This phenomenon should be adequately evaluated managing allergic patients.



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