Human IgE Response to the Administration of Blood Components

Abstract

Adults (43) from a renal dialysis unit staff received regularly spaced .gamma.-globulin administrations for hepatitis B prophylaxis. Several blood samples were collected over a prolonged period of time (160 days). Following .gamma.-globulin administration, anti-immunoglobulin [Ig] antibodies of the IgE class were detected in 80% of this population, a fortnight after the 1st injection using serum absorptions on polymerized .gamma.-globulins or a specific inverse RAST [radioallergosorbent test] method. The reactivity pattern of these IgE anti-Ig antibodies was similar to that observed for the anti-Ig antibodies with limited specificity detected by passive hemagglutination, in that they reacted with only 1 of the Ig 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 .gamma.-globulin administration. This suggested a feedback regulation mechanism for the reagin production in man, as it was observed in animals. A high incidence of anti-Ig antibodies of various classes was observed in this study. Only a small number (4/43) of adverse reactions appeared following .gamma.-globulin administration. For some of these subjects, the presence of specific IgE anti-Ig, detected by the inverse-RAST technique, suggests a possible role of such antibodies in some intolerance reactions of .gamma.-globulin administration.