Abstract
In order to evaluate the response of specific IgG and subclass antibodies undergoing antigenspecific immunotherapy, 41 patients of nasal allergy with mite-allergen were selected for this study. All the patients were treated with immunotherapy by mite (Dermatophagoides Farinae) antigen for more than 2 years. The mitespecific IgG and subclass antibodies were checked at the point of 0.5, 1 and 2 years during immunotherapy. The IgG and subclass antibodies were detected with the method of ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).
The 41 patients were divided into 4 groups according to the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The change of specific IgG and subclass antibodies value after immunotherapy were evaluated in each group.
Obvious elevation of IgG and IgG4 value was noted in markedly improved group and improved group, as compared with non-effective group after 2-year immunotherapy. Mite-specific IgG/IgE RIST and IgG4/IgE RIST ratio also showed remarkable elevation after immunotherapy in the markedly improved group and improved group (p<0.01).
The elevation of IgG4 level was greater than IgG and it showed some relationship with the improvement of symptoms. The possibility of IgG4 antibodies acted as “blocking antibody” was suggested. Before the treatment, IgG4/IgE RIST and IgG/IgE RIST ratio showed higher level in the effective groups (both markedly improved and improved groups) than the ineffective groups (both fair and non-effective groups). It was suggested that IgG4/IgE and IgG/IgE ratio may be parameters for predicting the effectiveness of future antigen-specific immunotherapy.
