Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to taxanes have been related to nonspecifi c mediator release from mast cells. While the excipient macrogolglycerol ricinoleate has been implicated in complement or mast cell activation, an immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated mechanism has never been demonstrated. We report the case of a 49-year-old woman with a history of isocyanate-induced occupational asthma w...

The discovery of immunoglobulin E (IgE) was a breakthrough in the field of Allergy and Immunology. Our understanding of mechanisms of allergic reactions and the role of IgE in these disorders has paralleled to the discovery of treatment modalities for patients with allergy. Apart from allergic diseases, IgE is involved in pathogenesis of other disorders. Much controversy exists about the contro...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by intense polyclonal production of autoantibodies and circulating immune complexes. Some reports have associated SLE with a Th2 immune response and allergy. In the present study 21 female patients with SLE were investigated for total IgE and IgE antibodies to dust house aeroallergens by an automated enzyme-linked fluores...

To the Editor: The incidence of food allergy is age dependent, particularly affecting children and young patients. When selfreported, it ranges between 3% and 35%. However, placebocontrolled food challenge is positive in just 1% to 4% of all suspected cases. In elderly, anaphylactic reactions tend to be less severe, and a primary manifestation at this age is unusual. A 70-year-old white man nee...

The importance of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass responses in different infections has been elucidated for a number of organisms, but few parasitic organisms have been examined in this regard. In the current study, quantitative radioimmunoassays were used to examine the IgE and IgG4 subclass responses to larval Taenia solium. Patients were divided into clinically infected (CI) and probably uni...

Mast cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. They can be activated by immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated mechanisms to release powerful mediators affecting local blood flow. We have determined systematically serum IgE concentrations in 100 patients with acute myocardial infarction. There was a consistent pattern of change in serum IgE, characterized by a significan...

Polarized human T helper (Th) cells play a key role in the network of the specific immune system compartments. Cell-mediated immune response depends on activation of Th1-type cells, typically producing and releasing interferon-gamma and interleukin-2, whereas activation of Th2-type cells and production of cytokines such as interleukin-4, -5, and -10 are involved in humoral immune response and t...

The ability of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to bind to the cell membrane of basophiles and mast cells is progressively lost when the molecule is heated at 56”. In the present study, we have investigated the structural changes induced by heating under conditions known to destroy this biological function, although direct measurements of cytotropic activity were not made. After 30 min at 56” circular di...

Hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder. We report a case of a 6-month-old boy who suffered from developmental delays, frequent respiratory tract infection, and unusual fungal and bacterial infection. X-linked hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome was ultimately diagnosed with decreasing immunoglobulin-G, A, and E (immunoglobulin G = 51.3 mg/dL, immunoglobulin A = 8....