Journal List > Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis > v.21(4) > 1033138

Lee, Kim, Yun, Han, Ahn, Chae, Lim, Choi, and Yoo: Differences of the Clinical Manifestations and Laboratory Tests between Monosensitized and Polysensitized Children: A Single Center Study

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to identify differences in the clinical manifestations and allergic indices between monosensitized and polysensitized children.

Methods

We reviewed retrospective data from the medical records of patients who had chronic or recurrent respiratory symptoms and visited the pediatric clinic at Chung-Ang University Hospital for an evaluation of allergic diseases from January 2003 to January 2011. The patients were categorized into nonsensitized (n=111), monosensitized (n=149), and polysensitized (n=205) groups according to skin prick tests (as classified by five allergen groups). We compared gender, age, family history, admission history, food sensitization, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), peripheral eosinophil counts, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and methacholine provocation tests among the three groups.

Results

The frequency of food sensitivity was highest in the polysensitized group (n=101, 49.3%), followed by the monosensitized (n=8, 5.4%) and nonsensitized groups (n=0) (P<0.001). The FEV1 was significantly lower in the polysensitized group than that in the monosensitized and nonsensitized groups (79.4 20.2% vs. 87.2 16.0% vs. 87.6 17.1%, respectively) (± ± ± P=0.013). The total IgE and ECP levels were significantly higher in the polysensitized patients than those in the other patients (P<0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Differences in gender, age, peripheral eosinophil count, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness were not identified between the monosensitized and polysensitized groups.

Conclusion

The polysensitized group showed more frequent food hypersensitivity, lower FEV1 values, and higher allergic indices such as total IgE and ECP, suggesting a different atopic phenotype compared with those in the monosensitized group.

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Fig. 1.
The comparison of (A) eosinophil count, (B) eosinophil fraction, (C) log (total immunoglobulin E) and (D) eosinophilc cationic protein (ECP) levels in the three groups. ∗P<0.05.
pard-21-277f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Comparison of forced expiratory volume in 1 second in nonsensitized, monosensitized, and polysensitized groups. ∗P <0.05.
pard-21-277f2.tif
Table 1.
Clinical Characteristics and History of the Study Population
  Nonsensitized children (n=111) Monosensitized children (n=149) Polysensitized children (n=205) P-value
Sex (M/F) 62/49 96/53 131/74 0.306
Age (yr) 7.9 3.5 ± 8.5 3.1 ± 8.5 3.5 ± 0.225
Allergic familial history 23 (20.7%) 39 (26.2%) 89 (26.8%) 0.462
No. of hospitalization 1.2 2.3 ± 0.8 1.3 ± 1.1 2.0 ± 0.242
Food sensitization 0 8 (5.4%) 101 (49.3%) <0.001
BHR 26 (65.0%) 46 (80.7%) 39 (73.6) 0.221

Values are presented as mean SD.

BHR, bronchial hyperreactivity.

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