Assessment of Skin Reactivity and Specific Antibody to Egg and Milk Proteins in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: Comparison with Responses to the House Dust Mite Antigen

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Abstract
Sixty patients with atopic dermatitis attending an allergy clinic were assessed for evidence of skin sensitivity and serum antibodies to egg and milk proteins. Prick skin test responses to egg were found in 23 patients and in 74% of these positive egg radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was demonstrable. Positive prick test for milk were present in 10 patients, but only 30% gave a positive milk RAST. Quantitative intradermal skin testing, RAST, and a double antibody antigen binding radioimmunoassay confirmed the presence of IgE antibody to egg proteins but indicated that the levels were very low when compared to those seen to the house dust mite antigen in sensitive patients. In contrast, IgG antibody to purified egg and milk proteins was present in large amount in most patients, the levels being significantly higher than in non-allergic controls.