No abstract

Thymus-derived lymphocytes have been shown to play a role in the regulation of IgE synthesis in the rat. Both anergy and elevated serum IgE levels may be present in patients with Hodgkin’s disease. Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was investigated by measurement of delayed skin test reactions with five common antigens. Serum IgE levels were determined at the same time. Impaired CMI was more prevalent in patients in stage III (13 of 15) and IV (15 of 19), as compared to patients in stage I and II (9 of 17). All 12 patients with elevated serum IgE levels (> 300 U/ml) had impaired CMI. These findings strongly suggest a relationship between impaired CMI and serum IgE in Hodgkin’s disease patients.

The presence of IgE, IgG and ragweed antigen in or on eosinophils in the nasal secretions of ragweed-sensitive patients was investigated by radioautography using specifically purified ¹²⁵I-labelled antibodies to the above substances. The results indicate a significant (p <0.001) uptake of antiragweed antibody and anti-IgE antibody by eosinophils. There was no evidence of significant uptake of anti-IgG. From the above findings it was postulated that during the pollination season exposure to ragweed leads to the formation of ragweed-IgE antibody complexes. This is followed by the infiltration of eosinophils into the local tissue and the subsequent phagocytosis of these antigen-antibody complexes by the eosinophils.

SummaryIn a double‐blind study the therapeutic effect of a 4% disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) nasal solution was evaluated in thirty‐nine patients with acute symptoms of ragweed hay fever. Patients were randomly assigned to the DSCG or placebo group as they presented with allergic rhinitis. Overall, the DSCG was not more effective than placebo in controlling the symptoms of rhinitis or in decreasing the need for concomitant antihistamines or corticosteroids. Among patients with the highest pretreatment serum ragweed‐specific IgE (RW IgE) levels, drug‐treated patients had some reduction in symptoms as compared to their placebo controls during the peak of the ragweed pollen season. DSCG treatment did not influence the usual seasonal rise in RW IgE. Side effects from both the active and placebo aerosols were frequent but mild.We conclude that DSCG nasal solution used for the treatment of seasonal ragweed allergic rhinitis is relatively ineffective.