Allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in Vietnamese children with atopic dermatitis

Background In atopic dermatitis (AD), allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies is considered to play an important role in the disease's pathogenesis and could be used to identify triggers. However, the association between sIgE and clinical and sub-clinical characteristics of AD varies according to different allergens and different countries. Aim This study aims to assess sIgE antibodies and their association with clinical and sub-clinical characteristics of Vietnamese children with AD. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 children aged 2 to 12 years old, diagnosed with AD based on Hanifin and Rajka's criteria. sIgE antibodies were measured by the EUROLINE Immunoblot test. Results sIgE positivity to at least one allergen was detected in 119 out of 160 (74.4%) children. The top two positive allergens were food allergens (88/160, 55%), and house dust mite allergens (64/160, 40%). sIgE antibodies were more often positive in children with a high tIgE level (p=<0.001), children with a family history of atopic diseases (p=<0.001), and children with moderate and severe AD (p=0.037). sIgE positivity to food allergens was more common in children in the younger age group than children in the middle and oldest age groups (p=<0.001), while sIgE positivity to house dust mite allergens was more common in children in the older age group (p=0.025). Food allergens were more often positive with moderate and severe AD (p=0.01). Limitations The participants did not represent all children with AD attending the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, as we used a convenience sample and excluded those whose parents/guardians declined to participate. In addition, some information, such as medical history, was only obtained from the parent/guardian report. This information may lack reliability. Conclusions Given the high incidence of sIgE antibody positivity and its association with family history of atopic diseases, age, disease severity, and tIgE in Vietnamese children with AD, it would be worthwhile to assess allergen-specific IgE antibodies when there is clinical suspicion of an allergen trigger to advise on allergen avoidance for preventing the exacerbation of AD.