SENSITIZATION PATTERN AND CLINICAL PECULARITIES OF FOOD ALLERGY IN GEORGIA

The aim of our study was to investigate sensitization pattern to food allergens in different age groups of atopic patients in Georgia and reveal the associations between food sensitization and clinical manifestations of allergic disease reflecting the development of atopic march. 1000 patients (children-783, adult-217) with different clinical manifestations were involved in the study. Specific IgE antibodies to food mix, cow's milk, casein, egg, wheat, fish, nuts mixture and inhalant allergens were measured by using ImmunoCap (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). The prevalence of positive specific IgE to food mix was - 7.08%, cow's milk-4.61%, casein - 4.68%, hen's egg - 2.72%, fish mix - 0.77%, wheat -1.57% and to nuts mixture - 2.86%. The frequency of atopic dermatitis (p<0.0017), urticaria (p<0.0223) and anaphylactic shock (p<0.001) were significantly increased in patients with specific IgE to food mix. Allergic skin manifestations to ingested food were age-dependent, more frequent in children groups. Cow's milk and hen's egg are the commonest food allergens in the age group of <2 years. Sensitization to food mix, cow's milk, casein, hen's egg and wheat were predominated in male patients. Egg allergy was significantly associated with atopic dermatitis, fish allergy to bronchial asthma and severe milk allergy to anaphylactic shock. Present study is a first comprehensive investigation, providing unique data of the prevalence of food allergies in Georgian population. The results of this study are contributing to a better understanding of the disease, serving as a basis for the development of strategies for preventing and treating food allergies.