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Respiratory allergy is characterised by an IgE-mediated reaction. The immune system functions, including IgE production, progressively decline over time, such as growing up and ageing. Molecular-based allergy diagnostic defines sensitisation profile. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of age on serum allergen-specific IgE to molecular component levels in a large sample of subjects.Serum IgE to: Phl p1, Bet v1, Ole e1, Cup a1, Par j2, Can f1, Der p2, and Fel d1 were assessed by ISAC method. Sera from 2788 patients, 1230 males (44.1%) and 1558 females (55.9%), median age 23 years (1st and 3rd quartiles: 9.7-49.7 years; age range: 1 month-103 years) were analysed.The number of positive tests (i.e. sensitisation) tended to increase between birth and school-age till young adulthood and then decreased (p0.0001) with the exception of Fel d 1 (p=0.14). A similar age-dependent trend was observed considering the levels of each allergen components: the levels of each allergen component, with the exception of Fel d 1, tended to increase till early adulthood and then to decrease reaching the lowest levels in the elderly.Allergen-specific IgE production to inhaled molecular components trend to reduce with ageing, but with differences between allergens. This phenomenon should be adequately evaluated managing allergic patients.

Background Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is characterised by an inflammation consequent to allergen exposure. Nitric oxide may be involved in allergic inflammation. Objective This study evaluated the serum nitrite concentrations in SAR patients during and outside pollen exposure in order to estimate activity of nitric oxide synthases. Methods One hundred and two (56 females, 46 males, median age: 28.7 years) were included in this study: 56 with SAR evaluated outside the pollen season and so without allergic inflammation and symptoms, and 46 with SAR evaluated during the pollen season with symptoms. Serum concentrations of nitrite were measured and in those patients exposed to pollens, results were compared to scores of the Visual Analogue Scale for nasal obstruction perception. Results Serum nitrite concentrations were higher in SAR patients evaluated outside the pollen season (U=-6.78; p