IngentaConnect High prevalence of sensitization to cat allergen among Japanese c...

Abstract:

Background

Cat allergy is common among children with asthma. Many cat-allergic patients in Japan and elsewhere do not keep cats, but nonetheless become sensitized through environmental exposure to cat allergen. Objective

To assess the frequency of cat allergy and cat-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses in young Japanese patients with asthma in relation to self-reported cat exposure and Fel d 1 levels in dust samples. Methods

Cat dander-specific IgE antibody was measured in sera from asthma patients using the CAP system. IgE and IgG antibody to Fel d 1 was measured by antigen binding radioimmunoassay and by chimeric enzyme immunoassay. Fel d 1 levels in dust samples from a subset of patients' homes were measured by monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay. Results

Cat-specific IgE (CAP class≥2) was found in sera from 70% of 44 patients who kept cats and 34% of 394 patients who had never kept cats. The prevalence of sensitization increased progressively to age 6 years (40%: positive), and then increased gradually to age 16 years (approximately 60%: positive) in patients who had never kept cats. There was an excellent correlation between cat CAP values and IgE levels to Fel d 1. The absolute amount of IgE antibody to Fel d 1 ranged from 0.01 to 15.6% of total IgE. Most patients who did not keep cats were exposed to Fel d 1 levels ranging from 0.07-8 μg/g dust. Conclusions

Sensitization to cat allergen is common among young asthmatic patients in Japan, even among patients who do not keep cats. Use of CAP and the chimeric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay allows accurate diagnosis of cat allergy and quantification of specific IgE antibody levels.

Keywords: bronchial asthma; cat allergen; environmental allergen; IgE antibody

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1999.00472.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pediatrics, Doai Memorial Hospital, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 2: Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

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High prevalence of sensitization to cat allergen among Japanese children with asthma, living without cats