EVALUATION OF SPECIFIC IGE ANTIBODIES MEASUREMENT TO OVOMUCOID BY UNICAP SYSTEM AS A MARKER FOR INTRODUCTION OF HEATED HEN'S EGG TO PATIENTS WHO WERE UNDERGONE HEN'S EGG ELIMINATION

Abstract

We performed an oral provocation test with boiled hen's egg white in patients who had undergone egg elimination therapy. Specific IgE antibodies to EW, OA and OM were measured by the UniCAP system using sera from these patients and the results were compared to those from the oral provocation tests. Twenty patients (P group) had a positive result in the provocation test and 26 (N group) were negative. No difference was found between these two groups in age or duration of egg elimination. Specific IgE antibody titers to EW, OA and OM in group N were 0.3logU_A/ml, 0.3logU_A/ml and -0.3logU_A/ml, respectively. Those in group P were 0.8logU_A/ml, 0.9logU_A/ml and 0.7logU_A/ml, respectively. The prevalences of specific IgE antibodies to these 3allergens in group N were 92.3%, 88.5% and 34.6%, respectively. Those in group P were all 100%. A significant difference in the prevalence of specific IgE antibody to OM was found between the groups. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in those to EW and OA.
These results suggest that specific IgE to OM, measured by UniCAP system is a useful marker for the introduction of heated egg to patients who have undergone hen's egg elimination therapy.