A case of an anaphylactic shock following topical application of chlorhexidine preparation is reported. Specific skin-sensitizing antibodies against chlorhexidine were demonstrated in the serum from the patient by a passive transfer test. IgE antibodies against chlorhexidine were also detected hy radioallergosorbent technique (RAST). Paper discs conjugated with chlorhexidine-HSA (human serum albumin) significantly bound the IgE antibodies. Furthermore, all of the sera from seven other patients with shock reactions following the topical application of chlorhexidine preparation also showed high RAST counts. Both chlorhexidine gluconatc and chlorguanide which represents approximately half a molecule of chlorhexidine inhibited the reaction in a dose-dependent fashion. It is suggested that the shock reactions following topical application of chlorhexidine are mediated by IgE antibodies against chlorhexidine and that chlorhexidine and chlorguanide share the same antigenic determinant.

Background and aims-Recent studies suggest that tropomyosin (TM) may act as a putative autoantigen in ulcerative colitis (UC). Recently, we identified, by computer homology analysis, a specific peptide (HIAEDADRK) in human TM that can bind to HLA-DPw9. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of autoantibodies against this peptide in UC. Conclusions-Anti-TM antibody was detected in UC sera by a specific peptide based ELISA with high reproducibility. This peptide may be an antigenic epitope of TM involved in the immunopathogenesis of UC and, perhaps, PSC. (Gut 2000;47:236-241) Methods-Antibodies

No abstract

Guinea pigs were infected with Trichinella spiralis. A pooled serum from the infected guinea pigs was fractionated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. An IgE-rich fraction was injected into rabbits. The antiserum from the rabbits, after appropriate absorption with a normal guinea pig plasma, formed a precipitin line in immunoelectrophoresis and in immunodiffusion against a guinea pig serum containing IgE antibodies to ovalbumin. Uptake of ¹²⁵I ovalbumin was observed in radioimmunoelectrophoresis. This anti IgE could be used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of IgE antibodies to ovalbumin.

In order to examine the blocking activity of IgG2 antibodies to guinea pig for IgE antibodies-induced guinea pig asthma, experiments were carried out as follows. Guinea pigs were passively sensitized intravenously with guinea pig serum containing IgE antibodies to ovalbumin (OA). 8 days after sensitization, IgG2 purified from guinea pigs hyperimmunized with OA was intravenously injected. One hour later, the guinea pigs were challenged by inhalation of OA solution. Asthma attacks were not observed in the guinea pigs, whereas the attacks were observed in guinea pigs passively sensitized with the IgE antibodies but injected IgG2 fraction from normal guinea pigs 1 h before inhalation. These observations suggested that IgG antibodies that increased after immunotherapy might block asthma caused by inhalation of allergens in humans.

No abstract

No abstract

These results were in agreement with our pre-study impressions.