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Published on: May 31, 2021
Association between poly-sensitisation and sensitisation to staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B affecting allergic
Young-Ha Lee1, Minheon Kim1, Cheol Hyo Ku1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 20 Ilsan-ro, Wonju, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SE) sensitization in children is linked to increased allergic disease severity and multiple allergen sensitization. Higher SE-specific IgE levels correlate with a greater likelihood of polysensitization.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Pulmonology
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is implicated as a disease modifier in airway conditions.
- The role of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in pediatric allergic diseases and sensitization remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between SE sensitization and allergic diseases in children.
- To determine the relationship between SE sensitization and the degree of allergen sensitization.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 455 pediatric patients (aged 3-18) medical records.
- Analysis included clinical history, demographic data, sinus X-rays, and allergy testing (ImmunoCAP® for IgE).
- Specific IgE levels for staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and B (SEB) were measured.
Main Results:
- 41.3% of patients exhibited polysensitization to multiple inhalant allergens.
- Patients sensitized to SEs had higher total and specific IgE levels and eosinophil counts.
- SE sensitization strongly correlated with polysensitization and allergic multimorbidity.
Conclusions:
- Higher specific IgE levels for SEs are associated with an increased likelihood of polysensitization.
- SE sensitization is linked to increased allergic morbidity and potentially allergy severity in children.
Purpose:
Accumulating evidence suggests that Staphylococcus aureus plays a significant role as a disease modifier in upper and lower airway diseases. We aimed to assess the association between staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) with allergic diseases and the degree of allergen sensitisation in children, which remains unclear.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 455 patients aged 3-18 years between March 2018 and March 2022. Clinical history and demographic data were obtained. The baseline study included paranasal sinus X-ray scan, multiple allergen simultaneous test, and ImmunoCAP® for measuring serum total and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels to allergens and staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B (SEA and SEB).
Results:
The mean age was 9.77 ± 4.3 years. 133 patients (29.2%) were sensitised to one inhalant allergen, and 188 patients (41.3%) showed polysensitisation. Patients sensitised to SEs showed higher total and specific IgE levels and total eosinophil counts compared to non-SE-sensitised patients. Sensitisation to SEs is closely associated with polysensitisation to inhalant allergens and allergic multimorbidity. When the SE-IgE value was 0.35 or higher, the odds ratio for allergen polysensitisation was significantly higher than when the SE-IgE value was lower than 0.35.
Conclusions:
Association between polysensitisation and sensitisation to SEs in children shows the higher the specific IgE levels for SEs, the higher the likelihood of polysensitisation. Considering the relationship between polysensitisation, high IgE levels, and the severity of allergic morbidity, sensitisation to SEs is thought to be related to allergy severity.
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