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Updated: Sep 28, 2025
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A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma
Published on: June 4, 2017
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Pollen Allergy Screening with Allergen-Specific and Total Immunoglobulin E Titers
Hidenori Yokoi1, Yuma Matsumoto1, Michitsugu Kawada1
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo Japan.
Allergy & Rhinology (Providence, R.I.)
|April 1, 2022
Summary
Accurate identification of pollen allergy triggers is crucial. Serum tests for specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) are effective for cedar pollen allergy screening, but cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants can cause false positives.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergy Diagnostics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Allergic rhinitis, a type I hypersensitivity, is often triggered by inhaled allergens.
- Precise identification of causative allergens is vital for timely diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of serum-based allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and total IgE antibody titers for pollen allergy screening.
- To investigate the influence of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) on specific IgE titers and their role in false-positive results during pollen allergy screening.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire assessed pollinosis symptoms in 259 participants (132 with symptoms, 127 without).
- Serum specific IgE levels were quantified using the AlaSTAT 3g Allergy method.
- Seventeen components, including four CCD-specific IgE antibodies, were measured and comparatively analyzed.
Main Results:
- Sensitivity and specificity analyses were performed to predict pollen allergy.
- Area Under the Curve (AUC) values for cedar, cypress, orchard grass, and ragweed pollen specific IgE were 0.87, 0.82, 0.63, and 0.56, respectively.
- A significant false-positive effect related to CCDs was observed in pollen-specific IgE testing.
Conclusions:
- Serum specific IgE titers for cedar pollen demonstrate adequate accuracy for allergy screening.
- The presence of CCDs can lead to false-positive results in pollen allergy screening, impacting diagnostic accuracy.
