History of food allergy, RAST and challenge test in atopic dermatitis

Abstract

In 541 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), a history with special reference to food allergy, RAST and challenge tests were performed. In 84 patients cutaneous symptoms (exacerbation of the dermatitis or acute urticaria) were attributed to ingestion of various foods, especially eggs, milk, fish and peaches. While in cases of acute urticaria the history agreed largely with the results of the RAST and challenge test, in patients with exacerbation of the dermatitis, considerable discrepancies came to light between the anamnestic data and the other tests. Therefore the essential role of food allergy, in a consistent number of cases of atopic dermatitis, is unlikely. In the subjects with a family history of atopy, the early introduction of artificial milk neither increases the incidence of atopic dermatitis, nor precipitates its earlier onset, nor?finally?increases the incidence of asthma or food allergy. Only 3 out of 25 subjects with specific lgE antibodies to nuts showed specific lgE to birch, which is an uncommon tree in the South of ltaly.