HORSE SERUM-PROTEINS FOR HORSE DANDER-SEN SITIVE ATOPICS - WHAT SHOULD BE TESTED IN ADVANCE

Is there an easy way to detect a horse serum sensitization in atopics with sensitization against horse dander and hair? We examined 95 perso ns, 80 suffering from horse hair allergy, and 15 healthy non-atopic vo lunteers. Skin tests with horse hair and dandruff-mixture and horse se rum, specific IgE against horse dander and horse serum and IST-inhibit ion test were performed. None of the healthy individuals showed a sens itization. 8 (10%) of the persons with dandruff sensitization showed p ositiv prick-test reactions against horse-serum. In 4 (5%) persons, we found specific IgE against horse serum. Conclusion: Specific IgE or s kin tests are no reliable measures to detect a horse serum sensitizati on. If the application of horse serum fractions is needed for medical prophylaxis or therapy, horse hair sensitized persons should be treate d as careful as anybody else. Special screening tests for detection of serum sensitization do not exist.