Background: Well-known allergy tests are used to evaluate and diagnose allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the role of serum level diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme as a diagnostic marker in respiratory allergy.Methods: This case-control study included 40 patients with respiratory allergies (atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis) as well as 40 age-and sex-matched controls. A detailed past medical history of allergy was collected from each participant including family history of allergy. Physical examination, pulmonary function test (PFT) and measurement of serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and DAO were performed. Skin-prick test and specific IgE to common aeroallergens were also carried out.Results: DAO levels were higher in patients than controls. There was a positive correlation between severity of disease and DAO. No significant association was found between DAO level and age, type of respiratory allergy, duration of disease, PFT, eosinophilia, and total IgE. DAO had a high negative predictive value (94.7%) and high sensitivity (97.5%).
Conclusion: DAO may be helpful in the assessment of severity and in ruling out respiratory allergy. C 2019 ARS-AAOA, LLC.R espiratory allergy is growing significantly. Estimations worldwide reveal that 5% to 12% of the population are asthmatic, whereas 20% have allergic rhinitis, which is the leading cause of decreased individual productivity. One study showed that around 45% of patients had not yet been diagnosed and that respiratory allergies were underdetermined. 1 Accurate screening and early diagnosis are crucial in the management of respiratory allergy.Mast cells are the main contributor of a typical allergic inflammatory reaction. These cells are activated by exposure to allergens, which, in turn, results in the release of many mediators including histamine, leukotrienes, and specific cytokines. 2 Histamine is the main biomarker of the