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Bacterial allergy in nasal polyposis. A new method for quantifying specific IgE
E Calenoff1, J T McMahan, G D Herzon
1Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill. 60611-3008.
Archives of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery
|August 1, 1993
Summary
This study found that removing IgG antibodies enhances the detection of bacteria-specific IgE in patients with chronic sinus disease. Most patients with nasal polyposis or chronic sinusitis show positive bacteria-specific IgE levels.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Otolaryngology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Chronic paranasal sinus disease is a complex condition.
- The role of specific IgE antibodies in its pathogenesis is not fully understood.
- Current diagnostic methods may be limited by interfering antibodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the measurement of bacteria-specific serum IgE.
- To investigate the prevalence of bacteria-specific IgE in patients with chronic sinus disease.
- To assess the utility of a modified radioallergosorbent test (RAST).
Main Methods:
- A modified RAST method was used, involving absorption of serum with recProtein A to remove IgG.
- Purified proteins from 16 bacterial species were used as allergens.
- Patients with nasal polyposis, chronic sinusitis, and controls with allergic rhinitis were tested.
Main Results:
- Pretreatment with recProtein A significantly increased the sensitivity of bacteria-specific RAST.
- A high prevalence of positive bacteria-specific IgE was found in patients with nasal polyposis (17/24) and chronic sinusitis (8/14).
- Only one control subject with allergic rhinitis showed positive IgE.
Conclusions:
- Bacteria-specific serum IgE can be reliably quantified using this method.
- Most patients with chronic paranasal sinus disease exhibit bacteria-specific IgE.
- Bacterial sensitization is implicated in the immune response of chronic sinus disease.