|
KMID : 0369319930130030312
|
|
Allergy
1993 Volume.13 No. 3 p.312 ~ p.325
|
|
|
Detection of Honeybee Venom Specific IgE and IgG4 in Honeybee Venom Allergy
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
Hymenoptera sting allergy, it´s incidence being reported to be as high as 4% of general population, remains as an important clinical as well as research agenda. In this study, honeybee venom was extracted from crushed venom sac. Skin prick test
using
this venom was performed t the patients who were known to be allergic to Hymenoptera sting. In additon, the authors attempted to detect specific IgE and IgG4 to honeybee venom utilizing ELISA methods in several category of the subjects; 3
patients
who
has befinite history of allergy following the Hymenoptera sting, two immediate family members of the patients with the history of honeybee sting anaphylaxis, and 95 cases of respiratory allergy who already had undergone skin prick test using
Bencard´s
(r) bee and wasp whole body extracts.
1) The protein content of honeybee venom extract, as quantitatively measured by Lowry method, was 0.14mg/ml. SDS-PAGE demonstrated the presence of 8 bands with the molecular weight of 95, 85, 60, 45, 25, 20, 15 and 9 kD repectively.
2) None of the 4 subjects in normal control group showed positive response to skin prick test with the honeybee venom. In contrast, strong positive response were noted in two patients with a history of anaphylaxis or urticaria following honeybee
sting.
3) In the patients with a history of honeybee sting anaphylaxis, we were able to document the presence of high level of specific IgE and IgG4 to honeybee venom by ELISA method (O.D.:0.198, 0.043 respectively). This high level of specific IgE was
inhibited specifically by honeybee venom, not by D. farinae whole body extract. In one patient of honeybee sting urticaria, specifica IgE and IgG4 were not detected, even though she showed a positive response to the skin prick test with honeybee
venom
extract.
4) Among the 95 cases of respiratory allergy who had undergone the skin prick test using whole body extracts of honeybee and wasp, honeybee venom specific IgE were detected in 14 patients and IgG4 in 7 patients. However, the presence of honeybee
venom
specific immunoglobulines were not correlated with their skin reactivities to the whole body extracts of honeybee ad wasp.
5) The O.D. value of specific IgE and IgG4 showed modest correlation in the respiratory and Hymenoptera sting allergy patients(n=100, r=0.2891, p<0.001). However, in 17 patients who had specific IgE to honeybee venom in their sera, we were not
able to
find any significant correlation between the level of IgE and IgG4.
In conclusion, the skin prick test with honeybee venom appears to have high sensitivity in patients with honeybee sting allergy. Additionally, the specific IgE and IgG4 to honeybee venom were demonstrated in honeybee sting anaphylaxis. Therefore,
this
study strongly suggests that the skin prick test with honeybee venom and the measurement of venom specific IgE and IgG4 would subserve a valuable tool in terms of diagnosis as well as clinical management of honeybee sting allergy.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|