A multi-center analysis on the changes of sIgE in China from January
2020 to June 2021 under the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
Background: As people in China travel less and consume less
imported frozen food during the COVID-19 pandemic, the composition ratio
of allergens may have changed. Objective: To investigate the
changes of composition ratio of 20 types of specific allergens from
January 2020 to June 2021 of 618 patients in China. Methods:
The 20 items of allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) detection includes
dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides farina, ambrosia
artemisiifolia, salix babylonica, dander of dog, alternaria, cockroach,
artemisia argyi, dander of cat, house dust, milk, hen’s egg, mutton,
cod, peanut, beef, soybean, shrimp, crab and wheat. The results of
detection were collected from patients of dermatology, pediatrics or
allergy department. They are from 17 hospitals in China from January
2020 to June 2021, and participants were required to have at least one
positive result of sIgE detection (≥0.35 IU/mL). The age ranges from 0
to 89 years old. Serum detection was performed by enzyme allegro-sorbent
test (REAST). Results: The proportion of inhaled allergens in
618 patients was significantly lower than that of ingested allergens.
Most of the inhaled allergens were indoor allergens. In the first half
of 2020, the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021, the
positive proportions of wheat, shrimp and crab were changed. Compared
with the same period in 2020, the positive proportion of wheat and
shrimp in the spring of 2021 significantly decreased, while that of crab
was significantly increased. The ratio fluctuation of dermatophagoides
pteronyssinus and dermatophagoides farina was related to seasonal
factors. There was no significant difference in the proportion of other
allergens. Conclusion: The special historical background of the
epidemic may have a certain influence on the change of the proportion of
allergens, but it is not the only factor.