Malin Berthold

A population-based study of animal component sensitization, asthma, and rhinitis in schoolchildren

Animal sensitization is a major determinant of asthma in children. Component‐resolved studies of unselected pediatric populations are lacking. The aim was to describe sensitization to animal components and the association with asthma and rhinitis in animal‐sensitized schoolchildren.

Wheat allergy in children evaluated with challenge and IgE antibodies to wheat components

Wheat sensitization is common but IgE antibodies (IgE‐abs) to wheat are not predictive of clinical symptoms in children with suspected wheat allergy. Wheat allergen components other than ω‐5 gliadin have not been well studied. Our aim was to characterize the clinical profile and investigate the value of adding measurements of IgE‐abs to wheat components in a group of children with a doctors diagnosed wheat allergy.

Multiplex component-based allergen microarray in recent clinical studies

During the last decades component‐resolved diagnostics either as singleplex or multiplex measurements has been introduced into the field of clinical allergology, providing important information that cannot be obtained from extract‐based tests. Here we review recent studies that demonstrate clinical applications of the multiplex microarray technique in the diagnosis and risk assessment of allergic patients, and its usefulness in studies of allergic diseases. The usefulness of ImmunoCAP ISAC has been validated in a wide spectrum of allergic diseases like asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, food allergy and anaphylaxis. ISAC provides a broad picture of a patients sensitization profile from a single test, and provides information on specific and cross‐reactive sensitizations that facilitate diagnosis, risk assessment, and disease management. Furthermore, it can reveal unexpected sensitizations which may explain anaphylaxis previously categorized as idiopathic and also display for the moment clinically non‐relevant sensitizations. ISAC can facilitate a better selection of relevant allergens for immunotherapy compared with extract testing. Microarray technique can visualize the allergic march and molecular spreading in the preclinical stages of allergic diseases, and may indicate that the likelihood of developing symptomatic allergy is associated with specific profiles of sensitization to allergen components. ISAC is shown to be a useful tool in routine allergy diagnostics due to its ability to improve risk assessment, to better select relevant allergens for immunotherapy as well as detecting unknown sensitization. Multiplex component testing is especially suitable for patients with complex symptomatology.

Phadiatop Infant® detects IgE-mediated diseases among pre-school children: a prospective study

To cite this article: Nilsson C, Lilja L, Nordlund M, Berthold M, Borres MP. Phadiatop Infant® detects IgE‐mediated diseases among pre‐school children: a prospective study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011; Doi: 10.1111/j.1399‐3038.2011.01203.x