IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH CAT-DANDER AND DOG-DANDER EXTRACTS .3. ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN RESPONSES IN A 1-YEAR DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO STUDY

[摘要] An investigation was made of the specific antibody response to individual antigens in 40 patients taking part in a double-blind placebo study of immunotherapy with cat- or dog-dander extracts. Antigen-specific IgE levels were measured by means of CRIE, and the results were expressed as scores. The patients demonstrated IgE specificities toward 1 to 5 antigens. Cat-dander antigens Nos. 4 (cat Ag 1) and 7, and dog antigens Nos. 6 and 13, produced the highest scores, but high IgE binding was also found for dog albumin. After 1 year of treatment, the IgE responses of the two treatment groups (allergen and placebo) were statistically indistinguishable from those before the start of treatment. There was a tendency toward a reduction in score for two of the dander antigens (cat Ag 1 and dog Ag No. 13), and no new IgE specificities appeared. Antigen-specific IgG levels were measured by means of CIE with patient serum incorporated in an intermediate gel, and the results were expressed as plus/minus precipitins. Only two patients had precipitating antibodies before the start of treatment (one against cat albumin and one against cat Ag 1). During the course of treatment, the production of antigen-specific IgGs was observed in 18/22 allergen- and 1/18 placebo-treated patients. For the cat allergen-treated group, the specificities were directed against cat antigens Nos. 2, 3 (cat albumin), 4 (cat Ag 1), and 7, and for the dog allergen-treated group, against dog antigens Nos. 2 (dog albumin), 13, and 20. Before and 1 year after the start of treatment, the patients'' homes were subjected to dust analyses for content of cat and dog antigens. These revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the allergen-treated and placebo-treated groups, either before the start of treatment or after 1 year of treatment. The range of cat Ag 1 and of dog albumin found was 100 to 100,000 ng/gm of dust.

[发布日期] 1986-03-01