Spectrum of IgE sensitization to allergen components in adults with atopic dermatitis: experience with a domestically developed allergen microarray

BACKGROUND: Molecular allergy diagnostics enables characterization of immunoglobulin E sensitization to individual allergen components. Data on the use of domestically developed multiplex platforms in adults with atopic dermatitis remain limited.

AIM: To characterize the spectrum of immunoglobulin E sensitization to allergen components and assess its associations with clinical and laboratory characteristics in adults with atopic dermatitis using a domestically developed allergen microarray.

METHODS: This single-center retrospective cross-sectional study included 38 adults with atopic dermatitis examined in 2024–2025. Serum bank samples and medical records were analyzed. Allergen-specific immunoglobulin E was measured using the ProAllergy multiplex allergen microarray, comprising 36 allergen extracts and 64 molecular allergen components. A specific immunoglobulin E result ≥0.35 kU/L was considered positive. Associations among atopic dermatitis severity, total immunoglobulin E level, and the number of components with positive specific immunoglobulin E were assessed, along with differences in these parameters between patients with and without asthma.

RESULTS: Specific immunoglobulin E to Bet v 1 was detected most frequently, in 30 patients (78.9 %), followed by Fel d 1 in 16 (42.1 %), Phl p 1 in 12 (31.6 %), and Art v 1 in 11 (28.9 %). Among food allergen components, specific immunoglobulin E to PR-10 family proteins was detected most frequently: Dau с 1 in 15 patients (39.5 %), Cor a 1.04 in 14 (36.8 %), Api g 1 in 11 (28.9 %), and Fra a 1 in 7 (18.4 %). The SCORAD index correlated with the number of components with positive specific immunoglobulin E (r_S = 0.34; p = 0.034) and with total immunoglobulin E level (r_S = 0.52; p < 0.001). When total immunoglobulin E was taken into account, the partial correlation between the SCORAD index and the number of components with positive specific immunoglobulin E was not statistically significant (r_S = 0.04; p = 0.830). The number of components with positive specific immunoglobulin E was higher in patients with AD and concomitant asthma than in those without asthma: 13 [6; 19] versus 4 [2; 7] (p_adj = 0.009).

CONCLUSION: Adults with atopic dermatitis showed a heterogeneous immunoglobulin E sensitization profile, with predominance of specific immunoglobulin E to Bet v 1 and homologous PR-10 family proteins. The number of components with positive specific immunoglobulin E was associated with total immunoglobulin E level and the presence of asthma. After accounting for total immunoglobulin E, no statistically significant association between this parameter and the SCORAD index was observed.