Comparing Fungal Aeroallergen Hypersensitivity in Adult versus Pediatric Populations: A Systematic Review

Author:

Maxwell Green1, Scout Treadwell1, Geetha Gowda1, John Carlson, MD, PhD2

Author address:

1 Tulane University School of Medicine, 2 Tulane University Medical Center.

Full conference title:

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Meeting 2023

Date: 24 February 2023

Abstract:

RATIONALE: Hypersensitivity reactions to fungi cause various human diseases. Stable extracts from some genera are used for diagnostic testing for hypersensitivity including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Existing reviews focus on fungi with high prevalence. The evidence to support the use of other extracts in adult or pediatric populations is less clear. METHODS: A systematic review of articles indexed in Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science was performed using the genus-level fungal names and specific hypersensitivity diseases. The twenty fungi reviewed were those with commercially available extracts used in our allergy clinic, excepting those with more well-established roles (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Candida, Cladosporium). We extracted the number of pediatric and adult patients with evidence of hypersensitivity attributable to these fungi from the literature. RESULTS: Twelve fungi were associated with hypersensitivity: Botrytis with asthma (adults522, children53); Curvularia with asthma or allergic rhinitis (adults5126, children5105); Rhodotorula with asthma (children598); Smuts with increased asthma (adults51),Trichophyton with severe asthma (adults572), Phoma with asthma (adults51, children519); Rhizopus with asthma or allergic rhinitis (adults515, children52); Pullaria with asthma or hypersensitivity pneumonitis (adults5186, children514); Acrenominum with asthma (adults51); Chaetomium with asthma or rhinitis (adults59, children522); Epicoccum with sinusitis, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (adults565, children52); Fusarium with allergic sinusitis and asthma (Adults595). No publications connected eight remaining genera to allergic disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Fungal sensitization was linked to asthma, rhinitis, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis in twelve fungi assessed. Importance differed by age group of patients. These results highlight the relative importance of these less common allergens when assessing patients with differing presentations and ages.

Abstract Number: 610

Conference Year: 2023

Link to conference website: https://aaaai.planion.com/Web.User/SearchSessions?ACCOUNT=AAAAI&CONF=AM2023&USERPID=PUBLIC&ssoOverride=OFF&MOPT=Search_Sessions&standalone=YES

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