BACKGROUND

Cockroach is one of the most important sources of indoor allergens and can lead to IgE sensitization and development of rhinitis and asthma.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to perform a cockroach allergen component analysis to determine the allergens and antibody levels and patterns of sensitization associated with asthma and rhinitis.

METHODS

Antibody (IgE, IgG, and IgG) levels to total cockroach and 8 cockroach allergens were determined in 2 groups of cockroach-sensitized 10-year-old children with (n = 19) or without (n = 28) asthma and rhinitis. Allergen-specific antibody levels were measured in streptavidin ImmunoCAPs loaded with each of the recombinant allergens from groups 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11, and total cockroach-specific IgE levels were measured with the i6 ImmunoCAP.

RESULTS

IgE antibody levels to cockroach allergens and extract, but not IgG or IgG antibody levels, differed between subjects with and without asthma and rhinitis. Specifically, recognition of more cockroach allergens with higher allergen-specific IgE levels was associated with disease. Variable patterns of sensitization with no immunodominant allergens were found in both groups. There was a good correlation between the sum of allergen-specific IgE and total cockroach IgE levels (r = 0.86, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Component analysis of 8 cockroach allergens revealed significant differences in IgE reactivity associated with the presence of asthma and rhinitis. Allergen-specific IgE titers and sensitization profiles were associated with asthma and rhinitis.