Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Allergic Reactions

Allergic Reactions

Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis

Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction mediated by Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. When IgE binds to allergens, it triggers the release of mediators– histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins from mast cells and basophils. These mediators cause vasodilation, edema, and inflammation, leading to various symptoms.The primary allergens causing anaphylaxis include food items (e.g., peanuts, shellfish), drugs (e.g., penicillin, asparaginase, corticotropin,...

Cross-reactivity

Cross-reactivity

Hypersensitivities

Hypersensitivities

Hypersensitivity, also known as a hypersensitivity reaction or allergic reaction, is a condition where the body's immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance. Such substances, that cause hypersensitivity are referred to as an allergen, could be something typically harmless to most people, like pollen or certain foods.
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...

Allergic Drug Reactions

Allergic Drug Reactions

Allergic reactions related to drugs are hypersensitivity responses driven by the immune system and bear no connection to the drug's therapeutic action. While drugs in isolation do not trigger an immune response, they can interact with endogenous proteins to form antigens. These antigens stimulate lymphocytes to produce antibodies. IgE-type antibodies attach themselves to mast cells. Upon subsequent exposure to the same stimulus, the antigen-antibody interaction is initiated, unleashing...

Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions

Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions

Drug-related allergies are immune-mediated responses triggered by the administration of pharmacological agents. These hypersensitivity reactions are classified based on the immune mechanisms involved. The four primary types—Type I, II, III, and IV—are mediated by different immunological pathways and exhibit distinct clinical manifestations.Type I Hypersensitivity/ IgE-Mediated Reactions: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) immediately mediates Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Upon initial...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Provision of Home-Based Primary Care to Individuals With Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability Is Associated With a Lower Hospitalization Rate Than a Traditional Primary Care Model.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association·2022

Same author

Increasing Reach of the Diabetes Prevention Program in African American Churches: Project FIT Lessons Learned in Using an Interprofessional Student Service-Learning Approach.

Missouri medicine·2021

Same author

Modeling dynamics of fatal opioid overdose by state and across time.

Preventive medicine reports·2020

Same author

Meaning in medicine groups as part of faculty development.

International journal of psychiatry in medicine·2020

Same author

Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Primary care·2019

Same author

Hepatitis C for primary care physicians.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM·2014

Same journal

Primary Care at the Center of America's Mental Health Landscape.

Primary care·2026

Same journal

We Care, and We Will Listen.

Primary care·2026

Same journal

Addressing Sexual Health in Primary Care.

Primary care·2026

Same journal

Diagnosis and Management of Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Primary care·2026

Same journal

Management of Concomitant Mental Health Conditions in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment.

Primary care·2026

Same journal

Nonpharmacologic Management of Insomnia Disorder in Primary Care.

Primary care·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Application of Biochip Microfluidic Technology to Detect Serum Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E sIgE

Application of Biochip Microfluidic Technology to Detect Serum Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E sIgE

Published on: April 21, 2019

Food and environmental allergies.

Miranda M Huffman¹

¹Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2301 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.

|January 31, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Diagnosing food and environmental allergies can be challenging due to complex symptoms and tests with low specificity. Accurate allergy diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and managing allergic diseases.

Keywords:

Atopic disease Environmental allergies Food allergies IgE-mediated reactions Immunotherapy

More Related Videos

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Published on: May 31, 2021

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Published on: September 14, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Application of Biochip Microfluidic Technology to Detect Serum Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E sIgE

Application of Biochip Microfluidic Technology to Detect Serum Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E sIgE

Published on: April 21, 2019

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Published on: May 31, 2021

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Mouse Body Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Thermometer During Passive Systemic Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Evaluation

Published on: September 14, 2018

Area of Science:

Immunology
Allergy and Immunology

Background:

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic responses to food and environmental allergens cause a spectrum of symptoms, from mild rhinitis to severe anaphylaxis.
Accurate diagnosis of allergic diseases is complicated by the reliance on patient history and diagnostic tests with limited specificity.
Increased public focus on food intolerances can lead to misattribution of symptoms to allergic responses, further complicating diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the diagnostic challenges in IgE-mediated allergic responses.
To emphasize the importance of differentiating true allergies from food intolerances.
To underscore the impact of allergic diseases on quality of life and their association with other chronic conditions.

Main Methods:

Review of current diagnostic approaches for IgE-mediated allergies.
Analysis of factors contributing to diagnostic difficulty, including patient history and test specificity.
Discussion of the differential diagnosis between allergic responses and food intolerances.

Main Results:

Diagnostic challenges in IgE-mediated allergies stem from varied clinical presentations and non-specific diagnostic tests.
Distinguishing allergic reactions from food intolerances requires careful clinical evaluation.
Effective management of allergic diseases improves patient quality of life and can positively impact comorbid conditions like asthma and eczema.

Conclusions:

Accurate diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergic responses is complex and requires careful integration of clinical history and diagnostic data.
Differentiating allergies from intolerances is essential for appropriate patient management.
Management strategies, including avoidance and pharmacotherapy, are vital for controlling allergic diseases and improving overall health.