Human IgE Response to the Administration of Blood Components

Abstract

43 adults from a renal dialysis unit staff have received regularly spaced γ-globulin administrations for hepatitis B prophylaxis. Several blood samples were collected over a prolonged period of time (160 days). Following γ-globulin administration, anti-immunoglobulin antibodies of the IgE class were detected in 80% of this population, a fortnight after the first injection using serum absorptions on polymerized γ-globulins or a specific inverse RAST method. The reactivity pattern of these IgE anti-immunoglobulin antibodies was similar to that observed for the anti-immunoglobulin antibodies with ‘limited specificity’ detected by passive hemagglutination, in that they reacted with only one of the immunoglobulins of the panel used for their detection. A decrease of the overall IgE levels was observed in 62% of the subjects for a prolonged period of time following γ-globulin administration. This suggests a feedback regulation mechanism for the reagin production in man, as it has already been observed in animals. A high incidence of anti-immunoglobulin antibodies of various classes was observed in this study. However, only a small number (4/43) of adverse reactions appeared following γ-globulin administration. For some of these subjects, the presence of specific IgE anti-immunoglobulin, detected by the inverse-RAST technique, suggests a possible role of such antibodies in some intolerance reactions to γ-globulin administration.

Serum IgE in Polytransfused Thalassemic Patients

“…The authors suggested that antigenic stimulation from the transfusion of platelet and white cells produced hyperactivity of the IgE response. Our study confirms the results obtained by Cartroon et al [4] and Ropars et al [16], even if our thalassemic patients differ in age, type of transfusions and immunologic pattern.…”

“…Ropars et al [16] studied the IgE response in 94 adult cardiac surgery patients who received massive blood transfusions during bypass procedure. IgE increased over the 2 weeks following surgery and then returned to pretransfusion levels within 2 months.…”

Immunoglobulin subclass distribution of specific antibodies in allergic patients

“…In the latter case it is noteworthy that total levels of IgG3 may remain normal in spite of infection (18). A similar argument appears to be valid for responses both against autologous protein antigens (such as blood group antigens (A, D and P), which induce IgGl and IgG3 (9) but not IgE (16) and immunglobulins which induce IgGl, IgG4 and IgE (2,8,14,17)) and heterologous antigens (such as tetanus toxoid (IgGl, IgG4 and IgE) (21)). Although these two patterns appear rather consistent, exceptions may exist and trace amounts of the non-preferred subclasses (such as IgG2 and IgG3 or IgG4) may be found in the sera of hyperimmunized individuals.…”

Intravenous gammaglobulin, 2: pharmacology, clinical uses and mechanisms of action

“…These observations were supported by the studies of Ropars et al (412) who concluded that only the class-specific anti-IgA antibodies were of importance and that the majority of reactions were due to anti-complementary effects of the gammaglobulin preparations. Elevated titers of IgE anti-IgA were also detected in patients given multiple injections of gammaglobulin, but as with the IgG anti-IgA antibodies, they were of limited specificity and not associated with adverse reactions (413). Only those with antibodies of broad specificity demonstrated an association with intolerance reactions.…”