Allergen Sensitization Pattern by Sex: A Cluster Analysis in Korea

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Dermatology
• Allergy Research

Background:

• Simultaneous allergen sensitization is common, but specific patterns remain unclear.
• Potential causes include allergen cross-reactivity or concurrent exposure.
• Understanding these patterns is crucial for allergy diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare allergen sensitization characteristics between genders.
• To identify specific allergen sensitization patterns based on sex.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 4,360 patient records with Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test (MAST) results (2008-2014).
• Utilized cluster analysis to identify patterns in 39 allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) results.
• Compared sensitization prevalence between male and female patient groups.

Main Results:

• All 39 allergens were grouped into 8 distinct clusters based on sensitization patterns.
• Males exhibited higher sensitization rates across most allergen clusters compared to females.
• The fungus allergen cluster showed a higher sensitization rate in females than in males.

Conclusions:

• Allergen sensitization occurs in clusters, reflecting shared allergen characteristics or co-exposure.
• Gender influences allergen sensitization patterns, with males generally more sensitized.
• Fungal allergens represent an exception, with higher sensitization observed in females.