Frequency of Sensitization for Food and Aero-Allergens in Patients Recieved in a Venezuelan Laboratory During 2010-2011 Period

Background: Type I Allergy had been defined as an adverse immunologic reaction mediated by IgE that occurs after a repeated exposure to specific protein. The prevalence of the allergies has increased considerably in the past 20 years, thus increasing the need of study the response to several allergens. The objective was evaluate the frequency of foods and respiratory allergens sensitization in patients referred to Corpodiagnostica Laboratory (Caracas, Venezuela, ISO 9001:2008 certified laboratory) in the period that correspond from January 2010 and to July 2011.

Methods: There were a total of 2.445 patients with a request of specific IgE against some foods and aero-allergens. The sample was divided in groups according the age and sex. We measured the specific IgE to each patient by the in vitro RIDA® Allergy-screen immunoblot method (r-biopharm®, Germany).

Results: The frequency of sensitization to aeroallergens were 41,48% in 2010 (the most frequent were dust mites in the fallowing order: Dermatophagoides pteronissinus, D. farinae and Blomia tropicalis), and 51,20% in 2011, being the frequent: D. farinae, B. tropicalis and D. pteronissinus. In the case of food allergens the frequency of sensitization were 25,99% in 2010 and 36,47% in 2011.

Conclusions: In Venezuela the most frequent aero-allergens during the whole period were the dust mites, unlike other countries with established weather seasons, by another hand for food allergens the most frequent were milk and cheese. In most patients, the specific concentration of IgE type antibodies against the aero-allergens and food proteins were low, however, we observed that for some allergens such as dust mites and seafood the concentration achieved were higher. The food allergies could predisposes to a further respiratory complication, therefore it is important the diagnosis of this kind of reactions.