Abstrakt

The diagnosis of IgE-mediated occupational allergy is often difficult, because more than 250 workplace-related substances have been classified as “respiratory sensitizers”, but the number of standardized extracts for diagnostic testing is very limited. In addition, their specific health effects are complex and not in each case clearly defined. Specific allergy diagnosis bases on: anamnesis, skin prick test, in-vitro diagnostic and provocation test. There is no doubt that the measurement of specific IgE antibodies (sIgE) in sera is the most important and also practical available in-vitro test. The detection and quantification of IgE – the same is true for the skin prick test – indicate a specific sensitization against the relevant allergen. The significance of the allergy diagnostic depends on the quality of the allergen extract used and also on the different methods. Used antigens and allergens have to be characterized and standardized. The importance of recombinant allergens is increasing, but only few of them are commercially available for occupational allergens. Numerous occupational allergens, especially of plant origin (e.g., natural rubber latex, wood dust), possess cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants, which can negatively influence the specificity of the in-vitro diagnostic. Antigen-specific IgG is an important tool in the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Cellular test systems are methodologically complex, expensive, normally poorly dedicated for the sample transport, and sophisticated in performance and interpretation. They are complementary tools for a specific in-vitro allergy diagnostic with a clinical indication and under controlled procedures. Standard protocols including round robin tests and quality controls for each of these in-vitro tests are highly recommended.

Autoreninformation

Autoren

• M. Raulf

Abteilungen

• Institut für Prävention und Arbeitsmedizin der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung, Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA)

Adresse

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Monika Raulf
Institut für Prävention und Arbeitsmedizin der
Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung
Institut der Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA)
Kompetenz-Zentrum Allergologie/Immunologie
Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1
D-44789 Bochum
Email: [email protected]

Citation