Immunoglobulin E in non-specific proctitis and ulcerative colitis-studies with a monoclonal antibody

Reports of increased numbers of IgE-containing plasma cells in rectal biopsy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis and non-specific proctitis have not been confirmed by others. All of these studies used conventional anti-IgE sera in immunocytochemical techniques and it is possible that the discrepancies are due to a lack of specificity of some of these reagents. A monoclonal antibody specific for human IgE was applied in this study of 23 patients. Positively stained cells were rarely found in the biopsy specimens of both the disease and normal control groups.