[Changes in antigen-specific IgG, IgG4, and IgE antibodies in patients receiving immunotherapy with house-dust...

We measured allergen-specific IgG, IgG4, IgE antibodies and total IgE in sera from 64 patients who were receiving conventional immunotherapy (IT) with house dust (HD) extract. The sera were taken before and after IT. To measure allergen-specific antibodies, we used crude DF antigen, Der f I and Der f II for IgG and IgG4 antibodies, and crude DF antigen for IgE antibodies. The patients were divided into 3 groups: very short term group (IT period < 2 years, n = 9); short term group (2 < = IT period < 7 years, n = 25); long term group (7 years < = IT period, n = 30). The specific IgG antibodies for DF crude antigen did not change in any group. The specific IgG antibodies for Der f I and Der f II increased in the short term group and in the long term group. The specific IgG4 antibodies for all three antigens increased remarkably in the short term group and in the long term group. In the very short term group, however, the specific IgG4 antibodies did not increase for any antigen. Total IgE and the specific IgG antibodies did not change through IT. The specific IgG4 antibodies increased significantly through IT, but the time course of the increment of the IgG4 antibodies was not parallel with the clinical course of IT.