Sensitization to cat and dog components and prediction of symptoms in cat-sensitized children.

Background: Sensitization to cat and/or dog allergens during childhood represents a risk factor for the development of allergic diseases later in life.

Objective: The study investigated the association of patterns of sensitization to cat and dog allergen components with clinical symptoms of allergy to these furry animals among cat-sensitized children.

Methods: The children were evaluated for the presence of bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. Their mothers completed a questionnaire on pet exposure at home. Levels of serum IgE cat epitopes Fel d (1, 2, 4), as well as dog components Can f (1, 2, 3, 5) were measured in all the studied children.

Results: Respiratory symptoms following exposure to the cat allergen were most common in children with Fel d 2 epitope (p = 0.041). After contact with a dog, respiratory symptoms were most common in children with Can f 1 epitope (p = 0.042), atopic dermatitis in children with sensitization to both Can f 1 (p = 0.009) and Can f 2 (p = 0.002), whereas eye symptoms occurred mostly in children with Can f 3 (p = 0.039).

Conclusions: Molecular diagnosis in patients with pet allergy may help clinicians to predict clinical symptoms and their severity.