PMID- 16918504
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20070110
LR  - 20220408
IS  - 0105-4538 (Print)
IS  - 0105-4538 (Linking)
VI  - 61
IP  - 9
DP  - 2006 Sep
TI  - Flow-assisted allergy diagnosis: current applications and future perspectives.
PG  - 1028-39
AB  - Physicians predominantly rely upon quantification of serum-specific 
      immunoglobulin E (IgE) and/or skin test to confirm clinically suspected 
      IgE-mediated allergy. However, for various reasons, identification of the 
      offending allergen(s) and potentially cross-reactive structures is not always 
      straightforward. Flow-assisted allergy diagnosis relies upon quantification of 
      alterations in the expression of particular basophilic activation markers. 
      Actually, upon challenge with a specific allergen, basophils not only secrete 
      quantifiable bioactive mediators but also upregulate the expression of different 
      markers which can be detected efficiently by flow cytometry using specific 
      monoclonal antibodies. Currently, the technique has been applied in the 
      investigation of IgE-mediated allergy caused by classical inhalant allergens, 
      food, Hevea latex, hymenoptera venoms and drugs. It is also appreciated; the 
      technique proves valuable in the diagnosis of non-IgE-mediated (anaphylactoid) 
      reactions such drug hypersensitivity and the detection of autoantibodies in 
      certain forms of chronic urticaria. This review will not address immunologic 
      features, characteristics and general pitfalls of flow-assisted analysis of in 
      vitro-activated basophils as summarized elsewhere. After a recapitulation of the 
      principles and some specific technical issues of flow-assisted analysis of in 
      vitro-activated basophils, we principally focus on the current clinical and 
      research applications of the basophil activation tests. Personal experience of 
      both research groups is provided, where appropriate. Finally, a viewpoint on how 
      the field might evolve in the following years is provided.
FAU - Ebo, D G
AU  - Ebo DG
AD  - Department of Immunology, Allergology, Rheumatology, University Antwerp (UA), 
      Antwerpen, Belgium.
FAU - Sainte-Laudy, J
AU  - Sainte-Laudy J
FAU - Bridts, C H
AU  - Bridts CH
FAU - Mertens, C H
AU  - Mertens CH
FAU - Hagendorens, M M
AU  - Hagendorens MM
FAU - Schuerwegh, A J
AU  - Schuerwegh AJ
FAU - De Clerck, L S
AU  - De Clerck LS
FAU - Stevens, W J
AU  - Stevens WJ
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
PL  - Denmark
TA  - Allergy
JT  - Allergy
JID - 7804028
SB  - IM
CIN - Allergy. 2006 Sep;61(9):1025-7. PMID: 16918503
MH  - *Cell Separation
MH  - *Flow Cytometry/trends
MH  - Forecasting
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis
RF  - 104
EDAT- 2006/08/22 09:00
MHDA- 2007/01/11 09:00
CRDT- 2006/08/22 09:00
PHST- 2006/08/22 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2007/01/11 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2006/08/22 09:00 [entrez]
AID - ALL1039 [pii]
AID - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.01039.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Allergy. 2006 Sep;61(9):1028-39. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.01039.x.