Serum IgG antibodies to gliadin and other dietary antigens in adults with atopic eczema

Abstract

Fifty‐six adult patients with atopic eczema have been evaluated for scrum antibodies reactive with wheat gliadin, bovine milk or chicken ovalbumin using a solid‐phase enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA). Of the atopic eczema sera 35·7% were positive against gliadin and/or milk, compared with 9·2% of the control adult blood donor sera (P < 0·0005). In particular, 30·4% of atopic eczema patients had detectable IgG antibodies reactive with gliadin in contrast to 6·5% of the controls (P < 0·0005). These findings suggest that antigen absorption from the gut may play a role in the aetiopathogencsis of atopic eczema, and lend some support for the use of elimination diets in this condition.