Evaluation of immunologic tests in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

ABSTRACT

Inhalant allergens are most frequently involved in allergic rhinitis. IgE antibodies bind to mast cells. Degranulation of those sensitized mast cells release mediators which are responsible for allergic rhinitis. In this work, serum samples of 45 patients, as well as serum samples of 15 control, were studied for total IgE concentration. Antibodies specific to a group of allergens are tested by Phadia Top procedure as well as Phadezyme RAST procedure which utilizes single specific allergen in each disc to specify accurately the causative allergen. Total IgE concentration ranged from 2-110 UK/L in controls [15 cases] and ranged from 18-900 UK/L in patients [45 cases]. 29 patients had IgE concentration> 110 UK/L, 15% of them were positive by Phadia Top test while 24% were positive by Phadezyme RAST test