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World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2008; 14(19): 3044-3048
Published online May 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3044
Discrepancies between the responses to skin prick test to food and respiratory antigens in two subtypes of patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Rosa LS Soares, Hamilton N Figueiredo, Jose M Santos, Rita F Oliveira, Raquel L Godoy, Felipe AP Mendonça
Rosa LS Soares, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine-Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro 24030-210, Brazil
Hamilton N Figueiredo, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro 24030-210, Brazil
Jose M Santos, Medical school of Universitary Hospital Antonio Pedro, Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro 24030-210, Brazil
Rita F Oliveira, Raquel L Godoy, Felipe AP Mendonça, Medical school of Faculty of Medicine, Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro 24030-210, Brazil
Author contributions: Soares RLS and Figueiredo HN designed the research and analyzed the data; Santos JM, Oliveira RF, Godoy RL and Mendonça FAP performed the research and Soares RLS wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Rosa LS Soares, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine-Federal Fluminense University, Rua Marques do Paraná 189 /1002, Rio de Janeiro 24030-210, Brazil. rsalerno@openlink.com.br
Telephone: +55-21-27179192
Fax: +55-21-27179926
Received: November 20, 2007
Revised: March 16, 2008
Published online: May 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To compare the response to skin prick tests (SPTs) to food antigens (FAs) and inhalant allergens (IAs) in patients with two subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and healthy controls.

METHODS: We compared the results of SPTs for IAs and FAs in 87 volunteers divided into three groups: diarrhea predominant IBS (D-IBS) GroupI(n = 19), constipation predominant IBS (C-IBS) Group II (n = 17), and normal controls Group III (n = 51).

RESULTS: Of the 285 tests (171 for FAs and 114 for IAs) performed in GroupIwe obtained 45 (26.3%) positive responses for FA and 23 (20.1%) for IA. Of the 153 tests for FA in Group II, we obtained 66 (20.1%) positive responses, and of the 102 tests for IA, we obtained 20 (19.6%) positive responses. Of the 459 tests for FA performed in Group III, we obtained 39 (84%) positive responses, and of the 306 for IA, we obtained 52 (16.9%) positive responses. The numbers of positive responses were not significantly different between the three groups, but in the D-IBS group, the number of SPT FA responses differed significantly from those for the other two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Despite the small number of cases studied, the higher reactivity to FAs in GroupIcompared to Groups II and III adds new information, and suggests the presence of a possible alteration in intestinal epithelial function.

Keywords: Atopy; Constipation; Diarrhea; Food intolerance; Irritable bowel syndrome; Skin prick test