Egg

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Lars Yman, Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics AB, Uppsala, Sweden
 
Egg & constituents
The avian egg cell has a high content of nutrients. From the beginning of time, eggs have been an important source of protein and prehistoric man robbed bird’s nests.

Egg-specific IgE antibodies are usually the earliest antibodies appearing in children developing atopic disease. Measurement of egg white specific IgE (Pharmacia CAP System) at 6 months of age has been shown to be a very effective predictor of allergy to house dust mite during the first 5 years of life (1). Positive and negative predictive values were 85%.
 
Bird-egg syndrome
Several cases of egg-allergy in adults as a result of sensitization through inhaled bird antigens have been reported (2).In an another study reporting sensitivity to feathers, bird serum, excrement and egg yolk, hen’s egg-white and chicken meat, it was found that sensitization was acquired through the inhalation of bird components (3). Laboratory tests, including Phadebas RAST, found specific IgE to feathers, livetin, hen’s egg-white and yolk in these patients. Additionally, one patient suffered an anaphylactic reaction when using eyedrops containing lysozyme.
 
ImmunoCAP Allergens  
 
Egg & constituents
  • Conalbumin f323
  • Egg f245
  • Egg white f1
  • Egg yolk f75
  • Lysozyme k208
  • Ovalbumin f232
  • Ovomucoid f233

References:

    1. Sasai, K; Furukawa, S; Muto, T; Baba, M; Yabuta, K; Fukuwatari, Y . Early detection of specific IgE antibody against house dust mite in children at risk of allergic disease. J Pediatr; 1996; 128: 834-40.
    2. Mandallaz, M; de Weck, AL; Dahinden, CA. Bird-egg syndrome. Int Arch Allergy AppI Immunol; 1988; 87: 143-150.
    3. Wyss, M; Huwyler, T; Wüthrich, B. "Bird-egg" und "egg-bird syndrome" (Bird-egg and egg-bird syndrome). Allergologie; 1991; 14: 275-278.
1999