CAJ | 학술논문

AIM: To compare the response to skin prick tests (SPTs)to food antigens (FAs) and inhalant allergens (IAs) in patients with two subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and healthy controls.METHODS: We compared the results of SPTs for IAs and FAs in 87 volunteers divided into three groups:diarrhea predominant IBS (D-IBS) Group Ⅰ (n = 19),constipation predominant IBS (C-IBS) Group Ⅱ (n = 17),and normal controls Group Ⅲ (n = 51).RESULTS: Of the 285 tests (171 for FAs and 114 for IAs) performed in Group Ⅰ we obtained 45 (26.3%)positive responses for FA and 23 (20.1%) for IA. Of the 153 tests for FA in Group Ⅱ, we obtained 66 (20.1%)positive responses, and of the 102 tests for IA, we obtained 20 (19.6%) positive responses. Of the 459 tests for FA performed in Group Ⅲ, we obtained 39 (84%)positive responses, and of the 306 for IA, we obtained 52 (16.9%) positive responses. The numbers of positive responses were not significantly different between the three groups, but in the D-IBS group, the number of SPT FA responses differed significantly from those for the other two groups (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Despite the small number of cases studied, the higher reactivity to FAs in Group Ⅰ compared to Groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ adds new information, and suggests the presence of a possible alteration in intestinal epithelial function.