Experimental Determination of the Hypersensitive Diathesis in Man

Abstract

The intravenous injection of one ml of blood of heterologous human group followed by measurement of isoagglutinin response is a promising technique for assessing antibody-producing potential in man. Two of 48 medical students formed excessively large amounts of antibody following stimulation by the viral vaccine antigens of influenza A and B. These same individuals, and no others, reacted similarly to the injection of blood of heterologous group by producing very high concentrations of isoagglutinins. A small number of persons suffering from disease in which inappropriate immunological reactions are thought to play a role also responded to the blood group antigen by developing unusually high isoagglutinin titres. The hyperimmune type of antibody was present in the serum of persons exhibiting exaggerated responses. The tentative suggestion is made that a small number of human beings are immunological hyperreactors, and that this attribute may be a factor of importance in the pathogenesis of certain diseases.