Background A free running asthma screening test is usually used for screening exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.The total serum allergen IgE level can reveal the patient＇s atopy characteristics.Our study is to eva...Background A free running asthma screening test is usually used for screening exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.The total serum allergen IgE level can reveal the patient＇s atopy characteristics.Our study is to evaluate the diagnostic values of the combination of the two tests in asthmatic children and compare this new diagnostic method with the Intemational Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood （ISSAC） questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test,which are popular diagnostic tool for pediatric asthma.Methods A total of 773 school children were recruited in this study.The children＇s asthma was diagnosed by means of a combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level.The new diagnostic method value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves and compared with other diagnostic tools such as ISSAC questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test.Results The AUC of this new diagnostic method was higher than 0.9.When the cut-off value of total serum allergen IgE level was ≥47 KU/L,the sensitivity and the specificity were 71.4％ and 85.1％,respectively,which were better than those of either the ISSAC questionnaires or bronchial provocation test.Conclusion The combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level may be an effective diagnostic tool for children＇s asthma.展开更多
Objective:Our objective was to review skin prick allergy testing(SPAT)results in patients with symptomatic rhinitis in an Irish population.Methods:A fifteen-year retrospective review of our database of symptomatic pat...Objective:Our objective was to review skin prick allergy testing(SPAT)results in patients with symptomatic rhinitis in an Irish population.Methods:A fifteen-year retrospective review of our database of symptomatic patients with rhinitis was performed.All patients who had SPAT performed during this interval were included.Data was analysed in terms of demographics and dominant allergens.Results:1158 patients were included.617 Females vs 541 Males.Age range five to eighty-five years old.Mean age thirty-four years.49%of our patients tested positive to at least one aeroallergen.The most common allergens were dust mites(23%)and timothy grass(22%).Patients born during the Irish pollen season(April-July)were between 5 and 7 times more likely to be sensitive to timothy and ryegrass pollens compared to others tested.241 patients had both SPAT and serum allergen specific IgE testing(SASIgET)performed;positive results were consistent between both groups.Conclusion:Results demonstrated that half of our patients with symptomatic rhinitis had allergen sensitisation.Dust mites and grass were the main allergens in our area.Our nurse led clinic has allowed efficient patient education and the development of a unique Irish SPAT database.Retesting a patient with a known allergy test result it is not indicated.展开更多
文摘Background A free running asthma screening test is usually used for screening exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.The total serum allergen IgE level can reveal the patient＇s atopy characteristics.Our study is to evaluate the diagnostic values of the combination of the two tests in asthmatic children and compare this new diagnostic method with the Intemational Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood （ISSAC） questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test,which are popular diagnostic tool for pediatric asthma.Methods A total of 773 school children were recruited in this study.The children＇s asthma was diagnosed by means of a combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level.The new diagnostic method value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves and compared with other diagnostic tools such as ISSAC questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test.Results The AUC of this new diagnostic method was higher than 0.9.When the cut-off value of total serum allergen IgE level was ≥47 KU/L,the sensitivity and the specificity were 71.4％ and 85.1％,respectively,which were better than those of either the ISSAC questionnaires or bronchial provocation test.Conclusion The combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level may be an effective diagnostic tool for children＇s asthma.
文摘Objective:Our objective was to review skin prick allergy testing(SPAT)results in patients with symptomatic rhinitis in an Irish population.Methods:A fifteen-year retrospective review of our database of symptomatic patients with rhinitis was performed.All patients who had SPAT performed during this interval were included.Data was analysed in terms of demographics and dominant allergens.Results:1158 patients were included.617 Females vs 541 Males.Age range five to eighty-five years old.Mean age thirty-four years.49%of our patients tested positive to at least one aeroallergen.The most common allergens were dust mites(23%)and timothy grass(22%).Patients born during the Irish pollen season(April-July)were between 5 and 7 times more likely to be sensitive to timothy and ryegrass pollens compared to others tested.241 patients had both SPAT and serum allergen specific IgE testing(SASIgET)performed;positive results were consistent between both groups.Conclusion:Results demonstrated that half of our patients with symptomatic rhinitis had allergen sensitisation.Dust mites and grass were the main allergens in our area.Our nurse led clinic has allowed efficient patient education and the development of a unique Irish SPAT database.Retesting a patient with a known allergy test result it is not indicated.
