Allergies, not celiac disease
It is important to distinguish between the two different conditions. Wheat allergy is an IgE-mediated reaction that results in hives, swelling, vomiting, or choking shortly after consumption. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease with damage to the lining of the small intestine in response to gluten, diagnosed by completely different tests. The panel for cereals reveals allergies. Wheat-dependent anaphylaxis, induced by exercise, deserves special mention: the reaction develops only when the consumption of wheat and physical activity are combined in the next few hours, and individually neither causes symptoms - the condition often remains unrecognized for years. In recent years, sesame has been recognized as a significant allergen and is included in the list of mandatory labeling in many countries.
Blood test instead of skin test
Determination of specific IgE in the blood has important advantages over skin tests: it can be carried out during an exacerbation, while taking antihistamines, with severe dermatitis, when the skin is unsuitable for testing, and in young children. There is also no risk of a systemic reaction, since the allergen is not introduced into the body.
The panel format allows you to immediately test a group of related allergens in one blood draw - it is cheaper and more informative than testing each one separately.
How to read the result
- class 0 - no antibodies detected
- class 1 - low level, clinical significance is questionable
- grades 2–3 - moderate level, reaction is likely
- grades 4–6 – high and very high level, reaction is very likely
The main rule of interpretation
The presence of specific IgE means sensitization - the readiness of the immune system to respond, but not the allergy itself. A diagnosis is made only if laboratory data coincide with real symptoms after contact with this allergen. That is why you should not exclude a product from the diet only on the basis of analysis, without clinical manifestations - especially in children.