Prevalence of mold-specific immunoglobulins in a Midwestern allergy practice

Mold allergy surveys are an important part of the correct identification and treatment of mold allergies. This study included 100 patients who were referred to a Midwestern allergy clinic for the evaluation of rhinitis, suspected to be of allergic origin. An in vitro screening test for allergen-specific IgE (ImmunoCAP) comprised of 10 allergens, including Candida, Aspergillus, Helminthosporium, and Alternaria, was used. To assess the seasonal distribution of mold allergies, we randomly selected 8 patients out of the 100 from each season during which the clinical contact occurred, and we tested them for 14 varieties of mold. The overall incidence of mold allergy in atopic subjects was 44%. The most common molds were (in descending order of frequency) Alternaria, Helminthosporium, Aspergillus, Candida, and Curvularia. Mold allergy was diagnosed most frequently in the winter; the second highest period was the fall. Population surveys of IgE antibody sensitization by in vitro techniques can provide useful information about fungal allergy.