Prevalence and Functional Role of Anti-IgE Autoantibodies in Urticarial Syndromes

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 90; no. 2; pp. 213 - 217
• Main Authors: Gruber, Barry L., Baeza, Maria L., Marchese, Mary J., Agnello, Vincent, Kaplan, Allen P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.02.1988; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: Allergic diseases; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - analysis; Antigen-antibody complexes; Autoantibodies; Autoantibodies - analysis; Autoantibodies - physiology; Basophils - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cold Temperature; Dermatology; Enzyme immunoassay; Histamine; Histamine Release; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulin M - analysis; Immunopathology; Leukocytes (basophilic); Medical sciences; Myeloma; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; Trees; Urticaria; Urticaria - immunology; Vasculitis; Autoantibody; Immunopathology; Skin disease; Immunological investigation; Urticaria; IgE
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12462239

The prevalence of autoantibodies of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) classes directed against myeloma immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined in distinct subsets of urticaria, using an enzyme immunoassay. IgG anti-IgE antibodies were found in five of nine patients (55%) with cold urticaria, four of eight patients (50%) with urticarial vasculitis, and tree of six patients (50%) with chronic urticaria. IgM anti-IgE antibodies were found exclusively in cold urticaria (two of nine patients, 22%). Heating of these sera increased the binding to IgE, suggesting immune complex formation. Several positive sera were capable of inducing histamine release from normal peripheral basophils and caused a wheal-flare response upon intradermal injection. Sera containing such autoantibodies from three cold urticaria patients were studied for passive transfer of cold sensitivity. One serum containing IgG anti-IgE gave a strongly positive transfer test at 5h but not 48 h, suggesting a pathogenic role for the IgG.