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Clinical significance of molds newly available for radioallergosorbent testing
1Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine.
Abstract:
Three years of weekly Rotorod airborne allergen reports from Corpus Christi, Texas, were reviewed. Five of 10 newly available airborne molds for radioallergosorbent testing (RAST) were present in significant numbers. Three hundred seventy-five mold RAST evaluations were expanded to include the five old and these five new molds. Except for Alternaria, the frequency of and allegenic response to the new molds were generally greater than those for the five old molds. The usual Alternaria-Cladosporium mold screen proved less satisfactory when these five new molds were added to the mold battery; however, the addition of Helminthosporium to the screen corrected this deficiency. Cross-reactivity production of false-positive responses seems unlikely because of frequent significant variance in RAST scores from mold to mold in the same patient.
Insights
New airborne mold testing reveals previously undetected allergens. Adding five new molds to radioallergosorbent testing (RAST) provided a more comprehensive allergen profile, improving mold allergy diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Allergy and Immunology
- Aerobiology
Background:
- Airborne mold allergens are significant contributors to allergic respiratory diseases.
- Current mold allergen testing batteries may not encompass all prevalent airborne molds.
- Radioallergosorbent testing (RAST) is a common method for identifying specific IgE responses to allergens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and allergenicity of newly available airborne molds in Corpus Christi, Texas.
- To assess the effectiveness of an expanded mold allergen testing panel.
- To determine if new molds improve diagnostic accuracy compared to existing panels.
Main Methods:
- Review of three years of weekly Rotorod airborne mold data.
- Expansion of mold RAST evaluations to include five new molds alongside five established ones.
- Analysis of frequency and allergenic response to both old and new mold types.
Main Results:
- Five of ten newly available airborne molds were found in significant concentrations.
- The newly identified molds generally showed higher frequency and greater allergenic response than established molds, excluding Alternaria.
- The addition of Helminthosporium to the mold screening panel improved diagnostic accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Expanded mold allergen testing, including newly identified molds, enhances the comprehensive assessment of mold allergies.
- The inclusion of specific molds like Helminthosporium is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- Cross-reactivity appears minimal, suggesting reliable results from expanded RAST panels.