1987 Volume 36 Issue 4 Pages 184-189
Oral provocation tests were performed on 5 adult asthmatic patients, determined to be egg-sensitive on the basis of clinical history, elimination and/or provocation diet. Three out of 5 patients produced asthmatic symptoms with decrease of FEV_<1.0> upon challenge, and were judged to be provocation-positive. Changes in C1q-binding immune complexes and ovalbumin-specific IgG subclass antibody levels were also evaluated in sera before and after provocation tests. One patient showed decrease of IgG1 antibodies together with increase in immune complexes 15 minutes after ingestion of eggs, followed by wheezing with decrease of FEV_<1.0> 8 hours thereafter. It was speculated that the type III allergic reaction, defined by Coombs and Gell, might have been responsible for clinical manifestations in this case.
