13322
document
The prevalence of IgE sensitization to formaldehyde in asthmatic children . BACKGROUND Formaldehyde ( FA ) is well documented as a cause of occupational asthma . Recently , attention has been paid to FA as an allergen and a pollutant that enhances allergic sensitization . We have investigated the prevalence of FA-specific IgE in asthmatic children and the correlation between IgE sensitization to FA and the severity of asthma . METHODS One hundred and fifty-five children were investigated , 122 of them asthmatic and 33 nonallergic . Specific IgE against FA was measured by CAP RAST . In addition , the patients answered a questionnaire , containing questions on clinical features of their asthma , their living conditions , and symptoms of mucosal irritation . RESULTS Of all the subjects assessed , FA-specific IgE was detected in only two asthmatics , and their IgE levels of FA were low ( 0.42 and 0.46 UA/ml ) . One of the two patients with FA-specific IgE had severe asthma and frequent symptoms of mucosal irritation , but the other had mild asthma and only rare symptoms of mucosal irritation . CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of IgE sensitization to FA appears very low in Japanese children , whether or not they have asthma . Therefore , it appears likely that FA is not one of the major allergens causing childhood asthma .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Formaldehyde
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Intervention_Pharmacological
FA
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Intervention_Physical
CAP RAST
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Intervention_Educational
questionnaire
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Outcome_Physical
occupational asthma .
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Outcome_Physical
enhances allergic sensitization .
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Outcome_Physical
severity of asthma .
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Outcome_Physical
Specific IgE against FA
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Outcome_Physical
FA-specific IgE
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
severe asthma and frequent symptoms of mucosal irritation
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
mild asthma and only rare symptoms of mucosal irritation .
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Outcome_Physical
IgE sensitization
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Participant_Condition
asthmatic
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Participant_Condition
asthmatic