Food allergy severity predictions based on cellular in vitro tests.

Food allergy severity predictions based on cellular in vitro tests.
Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2020 Jun 15;:
Authors: Buyuktiryaki B, Santos AF
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Food allergy is increasing in prevalence and the severity of allergic reactions is unpredictable. Identifying food allergic patients at high risk of severe reactions would allow us to offer a personalized and improved management for these patients.
AREAS COVERED: We review the evidence for using the levels of specific IgE, the nature of the allergen and the use of cellular tests to identify patients at high-risk of developing severe allergic reactions to foods.
EXPERT OPINION: The evidence about whether the quantity of allergen-specific IgE reflects the severity of allergic reactions to foods is conflicting, with some positive and some negative studies. For some foods, specific IgE to individual components (e.g. Ara h 2 in peanut) can provide additional information. However, more important than the quantity of IgE is possibly the quality of IgE, which can be captured by individual measurements of affinity/avidity, diversity and specific activity, but is best measured overall using the basophil and mast cell activation tests, which assess the function of IgE in its ability to induce cell activation, degranulation and mediator release. However, biomarkers look at a single aspect of the allergic response and should be interpreted in the broader clinical context ...

Source: Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics - June 17, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Tags: Expert Rev Mol Diagn Source Type: research