404 Concordance Rates of Allergen Sensitization Amongst FamilyMembers at an Inner City Asthma Center

F. Hajee, H. Solomon, M. Castro, C. Bowser, M. Rao, R. Joks; Center

for Allergy and Asthma Research, SUNY Downstate Medical Center,

Brooklyn, NY.

RATIONALE: Environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a

role in allergen sensitization. This study was to determine if there is

increased concordance rates of allergen sensitization among the adult

and pediatric patients treated at our inner city Asthma Center who are co-

habitating family members.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart analysis of patients iden-

tified with at least one sibling or parent also treated at our center. We iden-

tified 66 patients from 28 families. Epicutaneous skin tests and in vitro

allergen sensitization results were available for 61 subjects. The following

allergens are routinely included in our assessment: dust mite, cockroach,

ragweed, Alternaria, Cladosporium, tree, grass, cat, dog and mouse.

RESULTS: The three most prevalent allergenic sensitizations for the total

group were dust mite (51%), cockroach (41%), and ragweed (36%). When

an arbitrary pair of family members was chosen, there was no strong evi-

dence of familial concordance for any allergen. Limiting the dyads to

mother-daughter, mother-son, or brother-sister did not introduce signifi-

cant concordances, although the sample sizes assessed were small.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that family members who live

together do not become allergic to the same allergens.

Funding: Center for Allerrgy and Asthma Research, SUNY Downstate

Medical Center

405 Risk Factors for Asthma in Adolescents: ISAAC Phase II in aBrazilian Coast City

L. M. Spinelli, N. A. Rosario, C. A. Riedi, A. V. Schmidt, J. J. Jorge, M.

Malucelli, M. S. Cramer, J. C. Correa-Celi, A. Albanus; Federal Univer-

sity of Parana, Curitiba, BRAZIL.

RATIONALE: The aims were to identify possible risk factors associated

with asthma in adolescents in a small town, Paranagua, Brazil.

METHODS: written ISAAC and complimentary questionnaires about

family history and living conditions were answered by 1007 students

aged 13-14 years. After aleatory selection, 340 students were submitted

to skin prick tests (SPT) with common aeroallergens (IPI-ASAC Brazil).

Two groups were constituted with or without asthma according to the pres-

ence of asthma symptoms in the last 12 months, and related to skin test sen-

sitivity to at least one aeroallergen tested. Statistical analysis were

performed by Fisher exact test and by OR and CI 95%.

RESULTS: the prevalence of asthma was 23.5%, allergic rhinoconjuncti-

vitis was 19.9% and eczema was 7,2%. Eczema and rhinitis were risk fac-

tors for asthma (OR 2.7 and 4.9 respectively). SPT were positive in 54.7%

of 340 selected students to at least one aeroallergen. D.pteronyssinus was

the most frequent allergen (46.5%). Significant risk factors were: positive

skin prick test (OR 1.8); breast feeding less than 6 months (OR 1.6); aller-

gic mother (OR 2,9); allergic father (OR 3.0), current pet ownership (OR

1.4). Risk factors not significant were: premature delivery, birth weight,

family size, passive smoking, and cesarean section (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of asthma in Paranagua city was higher

than the average in other Brazilian cities. Variability of prevalence and

risk factors among different population requires epidemiology surveys to

assist health authorities.

Funding: University of Parana

406 Allergic Asthma and Rhinitis Caused by Household RabbitExposure: Identification of Seum-Specific IgE and ItsAllergens

J. Choi1, H. Kim2, H. Park2; 1Bundang JeSaeng General Hospital, Seong-

nam-si, Kyunggido, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, 2Ajou University Hospital,

Suwon-si, Kyunggido, REPUBLIC OF KOREA.

RATIONALE: Although rabbits are common domestic pets, severe respi-

ratory allergic reactions to rabbits in households are unusual. Ory c 1, a 17-

kDa glycoprotein found in saliva and fur, has previously been identified as

a major rabbit allergen. In this report, we describe the cases of three pa-

tients with rabbit allergy who presented with asthma and/or rhinitis while

living in households with detectable levels of serum-specific IgE and major

IgE binding components.

METHODS: Three patients with rabbit allergy and 18 unexposed nona-

topic healthy controls were enrolled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-

says (ELISA) for serum-specific IgE and IgG4 to rabbit epithelium and

inhibition ELISA were performed followed by SDS-PAGE and IgE

immunoblotting.

RESULTS: All three patients with rabbit allergy had high serum-specific

IgE antibody levels compared with controls. The results of the inhibition

ELISA showed significant inhibition with the addition of rabbit epithelium,

whereas no significant inhibition was noted with the addition of cat and dog

epithelia. Two IgE-binding components with molecular weights of 16 kDa

and 67.5 kDa were identified by IgE immunoblotting.

CONCLUSIONS: Rabbit exposure may induce IgE-mediated bronchial

asthma and/or rhinitis in domestic settings.

407 The Relationship Between Obesity, Menstrual Cycle, AndLung Function In Korean Adolescent Girls

H. J. Yang, Y. H. Jeon, B. Y. Pyun; Department of Pediatrics, College

of Medicine, Soonchunhyang Univ Hospital, Seoul, REPUBLIC OF

KOREA.

RATIONALE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation-

ship between obesity, menstrual cycle and lung function in korean adoles-

cent girls.

METHODS: One hundred and three female high schooler(mean age:

15.9360.82 yrs, range 15–18) in Korea were enrolled in this study.

Study was performed with questionnaire including present or past histories

of ashtma, menstrual cycle, age of menarche, smoking habits and other

combined allergic disease. BMI was calculated based on their body weight

and height. Skin prick test to aeroallergen and pulmonary function test dur-

ing menstrual period and non-menstrual period were performed for all

study subjects.

RESULTS: FEV1/FVC was significant lower in obese group than normal

weight group(99.82613.82 vs 107.07610.18, P50.034). The group with

other allergic diseases(atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis or urticaria)

presented lower FEV1/FVC than the group without allergic dis-

ease(103.34611.46 vs 108.2469.92, P50.028). FVC was lower in the

group with sensitizaton to aeroallergen than the group without

sensitization(74.58610.13 vs 79.93613.74, P50.035), and FEV1 was sig-

nificant lower in the girls on menstruation periods at the time of pulmonary

function test than the girls on non-menstruation periods(77.49610.21 vs

80.3768.55, P50.033).

CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the change of pulmonary

function was related to hormonal change of menstrual cycle. Further study

for relation between the levels of sex-related hormone or obesity related

leptin and lung function is necessary.

J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL

VOLUME 119, NUMBER 1

Abstracts S103

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