N 3 (194) 2025. P. 40–44

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

L. A. Gai, M. M. Kurtova,Ye. V. Tarasov, O. V. Kovaliuk, I. H. Koltsova

Odesa National Medical University, Odesa, Ukraine
Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

DOI 10.32782/2226-2008-2025-3-6

Background. Serological tests for food allergy can yield false positive results due to antibodies against cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (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 allergens 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.

Keywords: food allergy, cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants, CCD, IgE, Ukraine.

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