Ragweed hay fever: treatment by local passive administration of IgG antibody

Abstract

Summary To determine whether the local administration of IgG antibodies might reduce the symptoms of ragweed hay fever, we tested the effect of this treatment in fourteen patients in a double‐blind pilot trial. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, treatment and placebo, and their symptoms and medication usage were determined during the ragweed pollination season. One group used a nasal spray consisting of phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) containing human serum albumin, whereas the other used PBS containing purified IgG from a subject with a high titre of IgG antibody to partially purified ragweed antigen E. Treated and control groups used comparable quantities of nasal spray, and neither noted any ill effects. Comparison of individual symptoms of hay fever, medication usage, and total symptom scores showed no significant differences between the groups except a lessening of eye symptoms (P<0.05) in the treated group. The results suggest that nasal administration of IgG antibody up to five times daily does not alter the severity of symptoms in ragweed hay fever. Furthermore, total serum IgE protein and specific IgE levels increased comparably in both groups, suggesting that passive administration of IgG antibody does not suppress the production of IgE antibody during the pollination season.

Egg-Derived Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) With Broad Variant Activity as Intranasal Prophylaxis Against COVID-19

“…The anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgY was designed to capture and immobilize SARS-CoV-2 on the nasal mucosa, preventing the virus from binding to and spreading across the nasal mucosa, and also preventing the transmission of the virus to other individuals. Intranasal delivery of mammalian immunoglobulins as antiviral agents has been extensively evaluated in humans ( 49 – 54 ). Human immunoglobulins G (IgG) and A given intranasally are well tolerated ( 49 – 54 ), including in pediatric populations.…”

IgA and IgG anti-ragweed antibodies in nasal secretions. Quantitative measurements of antibodies and correlation with inhibition of histamine release.

“…That nasal ab would be more effective in controlling hay fever was also suggested by the report (35) that autologous serum-blocking ab applied locally in the nose will reduce symptoms. However, more recent attempts to confirm this finding were not successful (36). The present study was designed to investigate the role of nasal ab in hay fever and the possible relevance of nasal immunization.…”

IgE-Mediated Allergen Presentation and Blocking Antibodies: Regulation of T-Cell Activation in Allergy

“…Purified IgG from a patient with a high titer of specific IgG was administered by nasal spray, and the patients were then observed during challenge or during the pollen season. One study showed an effect of passive administration of IgG, the results of which could, however, not be reproduced in another study [120, 121]. In bee-venom-allergic patients, intravenous or intramuscular administration of plasma from hyperimmune beekeepers with high levels of specific IgG had a protective effect in a following allergen challenge [122, 123].…”