International archives of allergy and immunology
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 1993
Isotypic analysis of grass-pollen-specific immunoglobulins in human plasma. 2. Quantification of the IgE, IgM, IgA class and the IgG subclass antibodies.
Previously, the specificity of human immune responses to Dactylis pollen was analyzed in 26 plasma samples with high levels of grass-pollen-specific IgG4 ('IgG4+ plasma', largely from grass-pollen-allergic patients), as compared to 25 plasma samples with low grass-pollen-specific IgG4 ('normal plasma', from nonatopic individuals). In the present study, a quantification of the Dactylis-pollen-specific IgE, IgM, IgA class and IgG subclass antibodies in these plasma samples is proposed. ⋯ In IgG4+ plasma, specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 concentrations were positively correlated between each other. Finally, the present study clearly confirmed the possible role of the CH gene regulation in allergic diseases.
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 1993
Relationship of interleukin-4 to isotypic distribution of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.
IgG subclasses of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies were determined in 182 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. All isotypes were detected, but IgG1 and IgG3 were predominant (62 and 51% of the cases, respectively). ⋯ Interleukin-4 (IL-4) was detectable in 17 of 36 selected patients, as opposed to 1 of 40 normal controls. The percentage of the total autoantibody contributed by IgG1 was significantly higher (p < 0.03) in these patients than in the remainder with undetectable levels of IL-4.
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Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. · Jan 1993
Case ReportsAdverse neurologic reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant.
While the cutaneous manifestations of the imported fire ant (IFA) sting are well known, neurologic sequelae are much more unusual. We report 2 cases of grand mal seizures associated with the sting of the IFA. ⋯ In both cases, the onset of seizures was delayed. As the geographic range of the IFA increases and more patients are stung, unusual reactions will be seen in greater frequency.