Objective:

To evaluate the sensitization to purified components of A. fumigatus, quantifying specific IgE and IgG antibodies to its recombinant allergens in the serum of patients with ABPA or with asthma and sensitization to molds, using as comparators patients with allergic asthma not sensitized to molds, patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) without ABPA criteria and patients with pulmonary aspergilloma. Methods: Cross-sectional evaluation of 57 patients diagnosed with ABPA (n = 13), CF (n = 9), asthma with fungal sensitization (AFS, n = 10), allergic asthma without fungal sensitization (AA, n = 18) or aspergilloma (n = 7). The quantification of serum specific IgE and IgG specific (sIgE and sIgG) to A. fumigatus (m3) and five of its recombinant antigenic components (rAsp f), rAsp f 1, rAsp f 2, rAsp f 3, rAsp f 4 and rAsp f 6 was performed by ImmunoCAP.

Results:

ABPA significantly differed from ASF in terms of sensitization (sIgE> 0.10 kUA/L) to its intra-cellular antigens (rAsp f 6 64% versus 0% Qui2 = 6.2, p=0.013) and higher levels of sIgE to its extra-cellular antigen rAsp f 1 (45.3; 0.2-33.7kUA/L versus 0.3; 0.1-0.3kUA/L, p=0.041). The levels of sIgG for A. fumigatus were significantly different between groups (p=0.002). However, the sIgG levels for the rAsp f tested did not differ between ABPA, ASF, FC and aspergilloma.

Conclusion:

The evaluation of the IgE response to A. fumigatus for some of its excreted (rAsp f 1) and intracellular (rAsp f 6) antigens seems to be useful in the serologic distinction of ABPA and asthmatic patients sensitized to molds. Serum IgG levels for rAsp f do not distinguish between different groups of sensitized patients, and do not improve diagnostic discrimination regarding the total extract of A. fumigatus.

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