Sensitization to the pollen pan-allergen profilin. is the detection of immunoglobulin E to multiple homologous proteins from different sources clinically useful?

Background: profilin is a highly conserved protein regarded as a pan-allergen in pollen and vegetable food. homologous proteins from different sources are highly cross-reactive. objective: to assess whether detecting immunoglobulin (ig) e to multiple profilins from different sources is clinically more useful than detecting ige to a single representative profilin. methods: sera from 43 subjects sensitized to profilin selected in 2 allergy centers in northern italy showing a different pollen exposure profi le were studied for their ige reactivity to 5 profilins (bet v 2,ole e 2,hev b 8,mer a 1,and phl p 12) using a commercial allergen microarray immunoassay. results: all 43 patients (100%) scored positive to at least 1 profilin on isac,although reactivity to all 5 profilins was observed in only 37 cases (86%). in approximately half of the reactors,ige reactivity to ole e 2 was much weaker than that to other profilins irrespective of the primary sensitizing allergen source,suggesting a low sensitivity of this allergen. much discrepancy in ige to bet v 2 measured by isac microarray and immunocap was observed. conclusion: detecting ige reactivity to a single marker protein (eg,bet v 2) is sufficient to diagnose or exclude sensitization to profilin. detecting ige to multiple homologous,cross-reacting allergen proteins is not clinically more informative and increases the risk of confusion and misinterpretation. © 2010 esmon publicidad.