A Study on Specific IgE Against Candida Albicans in Atopic Dermatitis Patients Referred to Boali Hospital, Sari- Iran

Background and Candida albicans (C. albicans) as a micro flora of the human could be responsible for a continuous release of allergen and may be responsible for chronic atopic dermatitis (AD) in sensitive patients. Thus, in this study, we analyzed AD patients for total IgE and specific IgE, against C. albicans. A total of 120 AD patients (male 52 and female 68) were introduced in this study. The age range varied from 4 months to 60 years (mean about 12.9 years). Serum total IgE was assayed by ELISA kit (RADIM). Solid phase was captured by sandwich ELISA assay, using a micro well format for the determination of serum specific IgE to C. Albicans was used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, (ALerCHEK Allergen specific human IgE). Of the 120 AD patients, 37 subjects (30.8%) had total IgE higher than 100 IU/mL, 44 subjects (63.7 %) 20-100IU/mL and 39 subjects (32.5%) less than 20 IU/mL. 9 (7.5%) of the patients had specific IgE against C. albicans. Among the patients who were positive for specific IgE to C. albicans, 6 (66.7%) were women. The result of our study on serum total IgE in AD patients is concordant with other studies from different countries. In comparison to other studies, our AD patients showed less frequency of specific IgE against Candida albicans. The explanations for the variation in the results obtained in various studies could be due to the age of patients, severity of disease, difference in the antigen preparation, different methods for IgE analysis and total IgE level.