TY - JOUR
T1 - The structuring of an allergy index based on IgE-mediated skin sensitivity to common environmental allergens
AU - Freidhoff, Linda R.
AU - Marsh, David G.
AU - Meyers, Deborah A.
AU - Hussain, Rabia
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Division of Clinical Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Supported by National Institutes of Health Program Project Grant AI-13370. Received for publication Oct. 21, 1982. Accepted for publication March 28, 1983. Reprint requests: Linda R. Freidhoff, The Good Samaritan Hospi-tal, 5601 Loch Raven Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21239. *Publication No. 499 of the O’Neill Research Laboratories, The Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, Md.
PY - 1983/9
Y1 - 1983/9
N2 - We computed skin-test sensitivity levels in 485 adults puncture-tested with eight standardized, high-quality inhalant allergens tested at single concentrations. In order to quantitate the "average" IgE-mediated skin sensitivity of each subject, we used both nonparametric and parametric statistical methods to generate two "allergy indices" (Allergy Index I and Allergy Index II) based on sensitivity end-point data from the subpopulations of individuals positive to six of the eight allergens. For the 192 skin test-positive subjects, Allergy Index I and Allergy Index II were significantly correlated with each other (rs = 0.98, p < 0.001) and with the number of positive skin-test reactions (rs ∼- 0.9, p < 0.001) as well as with log[total serum IgE] (r ∼- 0.4, p < 0.01). In 102 ragweed-positive subjects, log[specific IgE to ragweed] was significantly correlated with ragweed-specific "ragweed indices I and II" (r ∼- 0.6, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the average daily symptom scores reported by 14 ragweed-positive subjects during the ragweed pollination season were significantly correlated with ragweed indices I and II (p < 0.05). We propose the use of Allergy Index II in epidemiologic and genetic studies of allergic phenotypes as well as in clinical decisions for diagnosis and immunotherapeutic intervention.
AB - We computed skin-test sensitivity levels in 485 adults puncture-tested with eight standardized, high-quality inhalant allergens tested at single concentrations. In order to quantitate the "average" IgE-mediated skin sensitivity of each subject, we used both nonparametric and parametric statistical methods to generate two "allergy indices" (Allergy Index I and Allergy Index II) based on sensitivity end-point data from the subpopulations of individuals positive to six of the eight allergens. For the 192 skin test-positive subjects, Allergy Index I and Allergy Index II were significantly correlated with each other (rs = 0.98, p < 0.001) and with the number of positive skin-test reactions (rs ∼- 0.9, p < 0.001) as well as with log[total serum IgE] (r ∼- 0.4, p < 0.01). In 102 ragweed-positive subjects, log[specific IgE to ragweed] was significantly correlated with ragweed-specific "ragweed indices I and II" (r ∼- 0.6, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the average daily symptom scores reported by 14 ragweed-positive subjects during the ragweed pollination season were significantly correlated with ragweed indices I and II (p < 0.05). We propose the use of Allergy Index II in epidemiologic and genetic studies of allergic phenotypes as well as in clinical decisions for diagnosis and immunotherapeutic intervention.
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U2 - 10.1016/0091-6749(83)90032-5
DO - 10.1016/0091-6749(83)90032-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 6411796
AN - SCOPUS:0020578409
SN - 0091-6749
VL - 72
SP - 274
EP - 287
JO - The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
JF - The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
IS - 3
ER -