Possible Advantages of Highly Purified Penicillin in Avoiding Penicilloyl‐specific Sensitization and Allergic Reactions*

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to penicillin and related antibiotics

“…Reactions are usually with amino acids, which are capable of assuming a charge on their side-chains such as lysine or histidine [18]. Initially, many of the allergic reactions observed with penicillin were attributed to impurities consisting of high molecular weight proteins and polymers in the re atively crude early preparations of penicillin [19]. However, subsequent studies have shown that samples of penicillin free from detectable amounts of contaminating proteins and polymers can elicit hypersensitivity reactions.…”

Immunological Properties of Dialysis Retentates From Penicillin

“…Twelve male guinea pigs (Hartley) were immunized by repeated injections of penicillin polymers (i jig per animal) in aluminum hydroxide gel (i mg per animal) at o, 4,9,14,17,20 and 25 weeks (6). The animals were bled at 5, 10, 15, 18, 21 and 26 weeks by cardiac puncture.…”

“…High molecular vi^eight impurities of protein or polymeric character in penicillin preparations are considered by some to be capable of inducing anaphylactic antibody production in patients or eliciting anaphylactic reactions in already sensitized individuals (i, 2,4,14,17). However, some controversy exists over the occurrence of such compounds (i, 2, 3, 17) and the role they play in anaphylactic reactions (i, 2, 17).…”