Age Differences of BDB Haemagglutinating Antibody Titres against Milk and Egg Allergens

Abstract

Age difference in the distribution of serum antibodies against antigens in cow''s milk and hen''s egg were observed in 880 cases of both allergic and non-allergic individuals using the BDB hemagglutination technique and the following results were obtained. The antibody titers against casein, lactalbumin and lactoglobulin were generally low up to 3 months. The titers abruptly rose at 4 to 6 months and remained high up to 3 years. Then they began to fall and above 15 years of age they were scarcely discernible with few exceptions. The antibody titers against antigens of egg yolk and egg white were not detectable by 6 months in most cases. They began to increasesharply at 7 to 12 months, reaching the maximum at 1 to 3 yr. Then they began to fall gradually and above 15 yr. they were scarcely detectable with few exceptions. In this way there was found some difference between serum antibodies against cow''s milk and hen''s egg, but they were similar in the trend that both antibody changes by age described upward convex curves, rising abruptly from absence at birth and falling gradually to absence in adolescence.