SPECIFIC HUMORAL RESPONSE TO COWS MILK-PROTEINS AND OVALBUMIN IN CHILDREN WITH ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

Serum antibodies to four common food antigens, three cows' milk protei ns (casein, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin) and ovalbumin, w ere investigated in 21 children with atopic dermatitis (aged 3 months to 3 years) and in 15 age-matched healthy controls. Specific IgE was m easured by radioallergosorbent test; an ELISA was developed to detect specific IgG, IgG subclasses and IgA. Specific IgE was found in 76% of patients, while antigen-directed IgG and IgA were present both in pat ients and healthy controls; IgG to ovalbumin and IgA to alpha-lactalbu min were significantly higher in children with atopic dermatitis. The analysis of the IgG subclass distribution showed different patterns of response, IgG1 and IgG4 being higher in patients (even though statist ically significant only for ovalbumin), and IgG2 and IgG3 being lower in this group. The presence of food-specific IgE in the majority of at opic children and the different specific IgG subclass patterns observe d in patients and controls may reflect an alteration in the immune res ponse to dietary proteins in atopic dermatitis.