Serum IgD Levels in Allergic Children with Gastrointestinal Manifestations

A large number of studies investigating various biomarkers for allergy have been published over the past decades. To this date, no single or specific biomarker for allergy has been identified. Therefore, we examined markers of inflammation and immunoglobulins in children with allergic symptoms, among which children with GI allergy, in an attempt to find new and indicative markers for GI allergy. In the present study, total serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)D, CM-lgE, Ig-free light chain (Ig-fLC) kappa and lambda, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and galectin-9 were analyzed on 117 atopic infants and children, divided into different allergic manifestations: asthma (n=7), atopic dermatitis (n=56), eosinophilic esophagitis (n=20) and gastrointestinal (GI) allergy (n=34). Elevated levels of serum IgD, without the presence of IgE, was found in children with GI allergy. Serum IgD did not correlate with other laboratory parameters of atopy such as serum cow’s milk-lgE, Ig-fLC, TSLP, TARC and galectin-9. In conclusion, serum IgD is elevated in children with GI allergy, in the absence of IgE, and can be considered as a new indicative marker for GI allergy, however, its exact role in the pathogenesis of atopy awaits further studies

Serum IgD Levels in Allergic Children with Gastrointestinal Manifestations

A large number of studies investigating various biomarkers for allergy have been published over the past decades. To this date, no single or specific biomarker for allergy has been identified. Therefore, we examined markers of inflammation and immunoglobulins in children with allergic symptoms, among which children with GI allergy, in an attempt to find new and indicative markers for GI allergy. In the present study, total serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)D, CM-lgE, Ig-free light chain (Ig-fLC) kappa and lambda, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and galectin-9 were analyzed on 117 atopic infants and children, divided into different allergic manifestations: asthma (n=7), atopic dermatitis (n=56), eosinophilic esophagitis (n=20) and gastrointestinal (GI) allergy (n=34). Elevated levels of serum IgD, without the presence of IgE, was found in children with GI allergy. Serum IgD did not correlate with other laboratory parameters of atopy such as serum cow’s milk-lgE, Ig-fLC, TSLP, TARC and galectin-9. In conclusion, serum IgD is elevated in children with GI allergy, in the absence of IgE, and can be considered as a new indicative marker for GI allergy, however, its exact role in the pathogenesis of atopy awaits further studies

Fecal calprotectin: cutoff values for identifying intestinal distress in preterm infants

ABSTRACT Objectives: This review aims to examine the characteristics of the faecal calprotectin assay in neonates and the evidence for its use as a noninvasive marker of intestinal illnesses during the neonatal period. Methods: Bibliographic searches were performed in MEDLINE electronic database up to February 2010 looking for the following words (all fields): (‘‘infants’’ or ‘‘neonates’’) and calprotectin. Twenty studies, in which 1180 neonates were enrolled, were selected. Results: During the neonatal period, calprotectin levels are characterized by significantly higher values in both healthy full-term and preterm infants during their first year of life compared with reference values established for children and adults. No difference was observed according to gestational age or birthweight, whereas a higher faecal calprotectin level was detected during intestinal distress in neonates with either inflammatory or patent digestive alterations. Despite high interindividual variations, cut-off levels are proposed to identify infants with high risk of intestinal illnesses. Conclusion: Compared with adults and children, healthy full-term and preterm neonates have high calprotectin levels. The measurement of calprotectin levels in faeces can be a promising noninvasive clinical screening test for intestinal distress in neonates