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The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 18:434-439 (2005)
© 2005 American Board of Family Practice

Brief Report

Sensitization to Common Allergens in Adults with Asthma

Felicia Allen-Ramey, PhD, William F. Schoenwetter, MD, Thomas W. Weiss, DrPH, David Westerman, MD, Nasira Majid, MD and Leona E. Markson, ScD

From Outcomes Research and Management, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA (FAR, TWW, LEM); Brainerd Medical Center, Brainerd, MN (WFS); Atlanta Pulmonary Group, Atlanta, GA (DW); and Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA (NM)

Correspondence: Corresponding author: Thomas W. Weiss, DrPH, Merck & Co., Inc., P.O. Box 4 (WP39-170), West Point, PA 19486 (e-mail: Thomas_Weiss{at}merck.com)

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of atopy (ie, allergen sensitization) in a sample of adult asthma outpatients.

Methods: Population consisted of a total of 218 patients, 18 to 55 years of age, who were currently receiving care for asthma; and 13 physicians, whose specialties were Family Practice, Allergy, or Pulmonology and who were providing care to at least 10 to 15 asthma patients weekly. Patients provided a blood sample for quantification of total and allergen-specific IgE. Outcomes were the proportion of patients with atopy and the proportions of patients with elevated serum IgE specific to each of 8 specific common allergens.

Results: The patients’ mean age was 42 years, and 74% were women; 68% of patients met the study definition of atopy. Total serum IgE ≥ 114 kU/L was observed in 48% of patients, and 59% had elevated levels of IgE specific to one or more of 8 common allergens.

Conclusions: The majority of adult asthma outpatients had evidence of atopy and most were sensitive to a specific identifiable allergen. Awareness of the high prevalence of atopy among asthma patients might improve patient management.






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Copyright © 2005 by the American Board of Family Medicine.