Relationship between Total Tear and Serum IgE in Allergic Conjunctivitis

Abstract

Background: Recently, a new commercial test for total tear IgE based on immunochromatography (Allerwatch®) was developed. We examined the relationship between total tear and serum IgE levels with the Allerwatch test. Methods: A nonrandomized cross-sectional study was conducted in 40 patients with allergic conjunctivitis, 35 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects, and 6 patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). The total tear IgE score was determined with the Allerwatch test (0, 1 and 2), and the serum total IgE level was measured by solid-phase immunoassay (Phadezym PRIST) in all subjects. Results: Total tear IgE was assayed within 10 min of collection in all samples. The total tear IgE-positive rate was significantly higher in the allergic group than in the control and EKC groups (92.5 vs. 0.0 vs. 0.0%; p < 0.00001). Sensitivity and specificity were 0.925 and 1.000, respectively. The total IgE score and log (total serum IgE) were also higher in the allergic group than in the control and EKC groups [total IgE score: 1.48 ± 0.63 vs. 0.00 ± 0.00 vs. 0.00 ± 0.00, p < 0.00001; log (serum total IgE): 2.23 ± 0.50 vs. 0.80 ± 0.31 vs. 0.79 ± 0.37, p < 0.00001]. The total tear IgE score was significantly correlated with log (total serum IgE) in the allergic group (r = 0.712, p < 0.00001). Conclusions: These results show that this rapid test for the measurement of total tear IgE is easy to perform on an outpatient basis and may be helpful in the management of ocular allergy.

Relationship Between Total Tear IgE and Specific Serum IgE in Autumnal Allergic Conjunctivitis

“…[3][4][5] Recent development of a rapid immunoassay for measuring total IgE has now made it possible to measure total IgE tear levels. [6][7][8][9][10][11] Two allergic conjunctivitis peaks are observed in Japan, with one each occurring in the spring and autumn. 1,2 We previously reported finding a strong correlation between the total tear IgE score and specific serum IgE antibodies for cedar pollen in patients with allergic conjunctivitis during the spring.…”

Ameliorative Effect of Thymoquinone on Ovalbumin-induced Allergic Conjunctivitis in Balb/c Mice

“…19,20 High levels of IgE have been detected in the patients with vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), while mild levels of IgE were found in the tears of patients with perennial AC. 20,21 Mimura et al 23 found a positive correlation between tear and serum IgE in the patients with AC. Increased level of serum IgE was also determined in other allergic disorders such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis.…”

“…Increased level of serum IgE was also determined in other allergic disorders such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. [22][23][24] IgE presents binding sites for This cross-linking of the IgE surface to antigen on mast cells promotes the production of mediators. 25 We found that the level of total IgE and OVA-specific IgE was reduced significantly in the mice exposed to OVA on ocular administration of TQ.…”

Specific IgG for cat allergens in patients with allergic conjunctivitis

“…Determination of the total IgE level in tear fluid (total tear IgE) was performed with the Allerwatch Ò test according to the manufacturer's instructions [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. In brief, the filter strip was placed at the lower fornix of the right eye, and was removed when tear fluid reached the control line.…”