Objectives: To evaluate the sensitization profile to a panel of allergens of dust mite(DM), shrimp and tropomyosin allergens in a cohort of shrimp allergy(SA) patients.
Methods: Serum allergen-specific IgE of 105 subjects were quantified using ImmunoCAP and ImmunoCAP ISAC biochips. The subjects were classified based on a convincing clinical history and food challenge testing (FC) (dose=70g) to Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei. Group1A: Either SA with FC positive to either shrimp (n =22) or SA admitted to emergency departments for severe reactions but no FC performed (n=14) (total n=36); and Group1B: Reported SA with FC negative (n=31). Group2: Shellfish tolerant DM sensitized controls (n= 38).
Results: All 105 subjects but one were sensitized to at least one of 3 DM tested (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, Blomia tropicalis), with highest sensitization rates to Blo t 5 followed by Der f 1. DM and shrimp tropomyosin showed high correlation (p<0.001). Group1A had higher rates of sensitization to tropomyosins compared to Group1B (Der p 10 [33.3%vs9.7%], and Pen m 1 [33.3%vs9.7%], p<0.037); and to Group2 (Blo t 10 [19.4%vs0%], Pen m 1 [33.3%vs5.3%], Pen I 1 [27.8%vs5.3%], Lit v 1 [22.2%vs5.3%], p<0.05). Sensitization to Lit v 2 were higher in Group1A(22.2%) compared to Group1B(6.5%) and Group2(5.2%) (p<0.093). The sensitization rates to Lit v 3, 4 were low (<10%). A positive test for a combination of shrimp (ImmunoCAP f24)+any tropomyosin+any shrimp allergens gave the highest sensitivity(81.8%) to distinguish FC positive from negative subjects but had a low specificity of 24.1%. The specificity was highest(93.1%) when using a positive test for Der p 10 or any shrimp tropomyosin, but sensitivity was low(31.8%).
Conclusions: Tropomyosins are highly cross reactive across species and is significantly associated with SA in the tropics. ISAC Immunocap improved the accuracy to detect FC+ve SA.