IMPACT OF ANTIBODIES TO CCD ON THE RESULTS OF SEROLOGICAL TESTING FOR FOOD ALLERGY

Background. Serological tests for food allergy can yield false positive results due to antibodies against cross-reactive carbohydrate deter- minants (CCD), potentially leading to overdiagnosis of IgE-mediated food allergy.Objective – to assess the impact of anti-CCD antibodies on the results of serological testing for food allergy in patients from southern Ukraine.Methods. A total of 1.210 patients with a suggestive or convincing history of food allergy underwent serological testing for specific IgE antibodies to various food allergens using two immunoblotting panels. One panel included a CCD marker. Statistical analysis compared the frequency and pattern of positive results in patients with and without anti-CCD antibodies.Results. Antibodies to at least one allergen were detected in 46.0% of patients. Patients with anti-CCD antibodies had a higher count of positive reactions to CCD-containing allergens (mean: 7.30 vs. 0.85, p = <0.001*), while no such significant difference was observed for non- CCD allergens (mean: 1.15 vs. 1.90, p = 0.0256).Conclusion. The presence of anti-CCD antibodies significantly increases the number of positive reactions to CCD-containing food aller- gens in serological tests. Multiple positive results for such allergens should prompt suspicion of anti-CCD antibodies and further evaluation to avoid overdiagnosis of food allergy.