Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G M Halpern.
Mast cells contain proteoglycans, e.g. heparin, which manifest potent anti-inflammatory features. Mast cell degranulation could eventually result in self limiting inflammation with shortened course due to heparin release. The recent availability of low molecular weight heparins will allow for clinical studies in allergic/inflammatory syndromes, e.g. asthma.
"In vitro assays in asthmatic patients have been exploring the "allergic" component of asthma. Solid-phase IgE tests can supplement or replace skin tests. Histamine release and determination are performed with automated, or RIA/ELISA; however, these assays are still research oriented. More recently, tryptase has been investigated, and the serum levels of this enzyme correlate well with mast-cell activation. But asthma is a multifactorial/facetted syndrome, and these assays provide minimal and specific informations which may just focus on limited etiological aspects of an elusive malady".
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By using discs coated with allergens (RAST, Pharmacia) anti-human gammaglobulin goat antibodies, we could demonstrate specific IgG on sera whose IgE had been destroyed by heating at 56 degrees C for 4 hours. A detailed protocol is given. Preliminary results demonstrate absence of specific IgG in untreated patients with pollen allergy, and conversely presence of these IgG in patients treated with immunotherapy against pollens; most patients with epithelia, food and/or mould allergies had specific IgG prior to immunotherapy.
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We have studied the level of blocking antibodies in patients consulting for reagin-mediated allergies. This determination is, in our opinion, important to follow the course of treatment and the natural history of reagin-mediated diseases, treated by immunization.
IgG4-anti-IgE antibodies have been identified in normal nonatopic subjects, as well as in allergic patients. Their potential role remains controversial. We studied 44 Chinese children with allergic symptoms, and measured their IgG4-anti-IgE serum levels using a modified IgG4 FAST assay. The levels of IgG4-anti-IgE antibodies did not correlate with clinical status. The usefulness and relevance of these measurements remain questionable in allergic patients.
Since differences in HLA groups have been found in Chinese populations, as well as differences in the values of total IgE in China, Japan and Thailand, a study has been done in 44 Chinese children, all of them with a history of atopic conditions divided into five groups: asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, allergic bronchitis and atopic dermatitis. 34 of them were positive against D. pteronyssimus, 8 against cats, 3 against dogs and 3 against fish. The only adult patient studied was positive against gramineal plants (all positivities were tested with the prick test). IVT ELISA Screen is performed against 10 allergens, as well as 3 M FAST-Test and 3 M Total IgE FAST Plus Test. The results show that the majority of children had an elevation of the total IgE in the three tests. There is quite a good agreement between FAST and IgE-IVT and a better correlation between IgE-IVT and IgE FAST Plus. The correlation between IgE FAST and IgE FAST Plus was excellent.