1992 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 60-66
Recent knowledge accumulated in the field of basic research about the differentiation and development of IgE-producing cells suggests a possibility that corticosteroids may inhibit the production of IgE in atopic patients. However, there have been very few clear-cut clinical studies concerning the suppressive effect of corticosteroids on the serum IgE level of atopic patients. Recently, we experienced a patient of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with atopic dermatitis and marked serum hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E, who received corticosteroid-pulse therapy. We studied the time course of the changes in the levels of his serum IgE and IgE antibodies after the initiation of an ultra-high dose glucocorticosteroid therapy. The results obtained indicated that high-dose corticosteroid therapy suppresses the production of serum total IgE as well as specific IgE antibodies directed to house-dust mites and Japanese-cedar pollen. This inhibitory effect of corticosteroids on the production of IgE antibodies varied depending on the specificity of the IgE antibodies. At the same time, it was shown that high-dose steroid therapy suppresses the formation of anti-mite IgG antibodies. We believe that this is the first report showing the conclusive results concerning the suppresive effect of glucocorticosteroid therapy upon the formation of IgE and IgG immunoglobulins and specific antibodies.
