Prediction of sensitization to flour allergens.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that may contribute to the sensitization to flour in baker's apprentices, and to predict this type of sensitization with a stepwise logistic regression model. Of the total of 258 baker's apprentices, 54 (20.9%) exhibited specific IgE development against flour allergens (wheat, rye, and/or barley). Allergologic variables, such as the total IgE level and IgE specific to grass pollen, tree pollen, weed pollen, molds, and animal dander, were found to correlate strongly with the sensitization to flour. However, the correlation between the presence of other manifest allergies and the sensitization to flour was weak. The presence of shadowing of the paranasal sinuses on the radiograph (mucosal thickening, opacity, air/fluid levels, and/or polypous shadowing) correlated with flour sensitization as well as with the leukocyte and lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood. Of the lung function data, only total lung capacity (in percentage of the predicted values) weakly correlated with the sensitization to flour. We were able to predict flour sensitization with a sensitivity of 63%, a specificity of 90%, and an efficiency of 84% by using the parameters that allow for the presence or absence of IgE specific to grass pollen and tree pollen, the presence or absence of radiographic shadowing, and total lung capacity in percentage of the predicted values.