Specific IgE estimations by RAST in Japanese asthmatics compared with skin, passive transfer and bronchial provocation tests

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Abstract
Asthmatics (198) and 20 healthy persons were studied by RAST [radioallergosorbent test] and in vivo tests with 4 common inhalant allergens. Higher RAST classes were elicited with mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) extract and lower classes with other allergens. The agreement between positive RAST and skin or P-K [Prausnitz-Kuestner] tests was highest with the mite extract. RAST sensitivity was dependent on the kinds of allergens and was most sensitive to mite extract. Positive RAST was most closely related to the prick test reactions. RAST to house dust and mite extract were examined in terms of the threshold dosage of house dust and also the types of bronchial response (early, dual and late) induced by a certain amount of house dust; higher RAST classes were found in subjects with bronchial response of the dual or early type, elicited by a threshold dosage of diluted extract, while lower RAST classes were found in cases of the late-type response elicited by the threshold dosage of concentrated extract. Changes in Ig[immunoglobulin]E antibodies to house dust and mite extract were estimated in patients with positive house dust provocation. A greater increase occurred in cases of dual or early response, a smaller increase in those with a late response. Despite discordances in skin tests and RAST between house dust and mite extracts, the increases in IgE antibodies to mite extracts as well as house dust were observed in all cases, presumably caused by an allergenic identity between the allergens.