Skin reactions to tobacco antigen in smokers and nonsmokers

Immunological Aspects of Atheroma: A Review

“…In his two skin-testing studies, Harkavy claimed to show an increased incidence of tobacco allergy amongst smokers with coronary artery disease: in the first he found 44% positive (Harkavy 1934a), and in the second 67% (Harkavy & Perlman 1964). Unfortunately, control groups were not reported in parallel, and positivity in atopics confuses the issue, but the control incidence lay between 32% and 9%, depending on whether atopics were included or not.…”

The Allergic Response to Tobacco*

“…Harkavy (5, 6) questions the assumption that pathologic reactions occurring in some tobacco users are due solely to the pharmacologic action of smoking or nicotine, since many normal individuals do not show any symptoms, although they may smoke as much as those who have symptoms. He suggests, therefore, that the untoward reactions from tobacco may be associated with some non‐pharmacologic mechanism which renders some persons more vulnerable than others.…”