Birch allergen challenges in allergic conjunctivitis using unitary tests
and an exposure chamber
Abstract
Background: Environmental exposure chambers (EECs) have been used
extensively to study allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Few studies have been
published using EECs in conjunctivitis only, and none have used
conjunctival allergen challenge as a selection criterion. The present
study validated ALYATEC EEC in allergic conjunctivitis to birch
allergens. Methods: Sixteen patients with a positive conjunctival
allergen challenge (CAC) were ex-posed to 60 ng/m3 of Bet v 1 in an EEC
on 2 consecutive days for a maximum of 4 hours. Re-producibility was
tested among seven of the patients. A positive conjunctival response
during the CAC and the EEC exposure was defined as a Total Ocular
Symptom Score (TOSS) ≥ 5. Results: Fifty percent of patients had a
positive conjunctival response during the first expo-sure and 75%
during the second. The mean time to a positive conjunctival response was
81.2±33.9 minutes and 101.6±57 (P>0.05) during the first
and second exposure, respectively. No difference in the TOSS occurred
between the two exposures. The time necessary to ob-tain a positive
response during the CAC was significantly shorter than with the EEC. The
es-timated quantity of Bet v 1 inducing a positive response was
0.07±0.03 ng (exposure 1), 0.07±0.07 ng (exposure 2), 980±784 ng (CAC).
The frequency of conjunctival responses and quantity of Bet v 1 was
reproducible in all six EEC exposures. Conclusions: Birch allergen
exposures inducing early conjunctival responses were different than
those identified with direct installation during CAC. EEC appears to be
closer to natural exposure than CAC.