The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 126, Issue 1 , Pages 33-38 , July 2010

Human IgE antibody serology: A primer for the practicing North American allergist/immunologist

  • Robert G. Hamilton, PhD, DABMLI

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Robert G. Hamilton, PhD, DABMLI, Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Johns Hopkins Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Reference Laboratory, Room 1A20, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD 21224.
    • ,
  • P. Brock Williams, PhD

      Affiliations

    • University of Missouri Medical School, Kansas City, Mo
    • ,
  • Specific IgE Testing Task Force of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Received 11 January 2010 ,Revised 15 March 2010 ,Accepted 18 March 2010.

References 

  1. Bernstein IL, Li JT, Bernstein DI, Hamilton RG, Spector SL, Tan R, et al. Allergy diagnostic testing: an updated practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008;100:S1–S148
  2. Hamilton RG. Methods in the diagnostic immunology laboratory. In:  Adkinson NF,  Yunginger JW,  Busse WW,  Bochner BS,  Holgate ST,  Simons FER editor. Middleton's allergy: principles and practice. 7th ed.. St Louis: Mosby; 2008;p. 1247–1266
  3. Ishizaka K, Ishizaka T. Physiochemical properties of reaginic antibody. I. Association of reaginic activity with an immunoglobulin other than gamma A or gamma G globulin. J Allergy. 1967;37:169–172
  4. Johansson SGO, Bennich H. Immunological studies of an atypical (myeloma) immunoglobulin. Immunology. 1967;13:381–394
  5. Wide L, Bennich H, Johansson SGO. Diagnosis by an in vitro test for allergen-specific IgE antibodies. Lancet. 1967;2:1105–1109
  6. Matsson PNJ, Hamilton RG, Esch RE, Halsey JF, Homburger HA, Kleine-Tebbe J, et al. Analytical performance characteristics and clinical utility of immunological assays for human IgE antibodies of defined allergen specificities. 2nd ed.. Wayne (PA): Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute; 2008;
  7. Wood RA, Segall N, Ahlstedt S, Williams PB. Accuracy of IgE antibody laboratory results. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007;99:34–41
  8. Hamilton RG. Proficiency survey based evaluation of clinical total and allergen-specific IgE assay performance. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2010;134:
  9. Sampson HA, Ho DG. Relationship between food-specific IgE concentrations and the risk of positive food challenges in children and adolescents. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1997;100:444–451
  10. Eckman J, Saini SS, Hamilton RG. Diagnostic evaluation of food-related allergic diseases. [review] Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2009;5:2–8
  11. De Lovinfosse S, Charpin D, Dornelas A, Birnbaum J, Vervloet D. Can mite-specific IgE be used as a surrogate marker for mite exposure?. Allergy. 1994;49:64–69
  12. Simpson A, Soderstrom L, Ahlstedt S, Murray CS, Woodcock A, Custovic A. IgE antibody quantification and the probability of wheeze in preschool children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;116:744–749
  13. Williams PB, Siegel C, Portnoy J. Efficacy of a single diagnostic test for sensitization to common inhalant allergens. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001;86:196–202
  14. Hamilton RG, Rossi CE, Yeang HY, Bernstein DI, Biagini R. Latex-specific IgE assay sensitivity enhanced using Hev-b 5 enriched latex allergosorbent. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;111:S174
  15. Sicherer SH, Dhillon G, Laughery KA, Hamilton RG, Wood RA. Caution: the Phadia hazelnut ImmunoCAP (F17) has been supplemented with recombinant Cor a 1 and now detects Bet v 1-specific IgE, which leads to elevated values for persons with birch pollen allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;122:413–414
  16. Hiller R, Laffer S, Harwanegg C, Huber M, Schmidt WM, Twardosz A, et al. Microarrayed allergen molecules: diagnostic gatekeepers for allergy treatment. FASEB J. 2002;16:414–416
  17. Alessandri C, Zennaro D, Zaffiro A, Mari A. Molecular allergology approach to allergic diseases in the pediatric age. [review] Ital J Pediatr. 2009;35:29–41
  18. Astier C, Morisset M, Roitel O, Codreanu F, Jacquenet S, Franck P, et al. Predictive value of skin prick tests using recombinant allergens for diagnosis of peanut allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;118:250–256
  19. Ott H, Folster-Holst R, Merk HF, Baron JM. Allergen microarrays: a novel tool for high-resolution IgE profiling in adults with atopic dermatitis. Eur J Dermatol. 2010;20:1–8
  20. Nicolaou N, Poorafshar M, Murray C, Simpson A, Winell H, Kerry G, et al. Allergy or tolerance in children sensitized to peanut: prevalence and differentiation using component resolved diagnostics. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;125:191–197
  21. Hamilton RG. IgG antibody interference diminishes accuracy of chip-based allergen-specific IgE assays. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;125:223
  22. Diaz-Vazquez C, Torregrosa-Bertet MJ, Carvajal-Urueña I, Cano-Garcinuño A, Fos-Escrivà E, García-Gallego A, et al. Accuracy of ImmunoCAP Rapid in the diagnosis of allergic sensitization in children between 1 and 14 years with recurrent wheezing: the IReNE study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2009;20:601–609
  23. Christensen LH, Holm J, Lund G, Riise E, Lund K. Several distinct properties of the IgE repertoire determine effector cell degranulation in response to allergen challenge. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;122:298–304
  24. Hamilton RG, Saito H. IgE antibody concentration, specific activity, clonality, and affinity measures from future diagnostic confirmatory tests. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;122:305–306
  25. Barbee RA, Halomen M, Lebowitz M, Burrows B. Distribution of IgE in a community population sample: correlations with age, sex and allergen skin tests reactivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1981;68:106–114
  26. Hamilton RG. Accuracy of Food and Drug Administration-cleared IgE antibody assays in the presence of anti-IgE (omalizumab). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;117:759–766
  27. Johansson SG, Nopp A, Oman H, Ankerst J, Cardell LO, Grönneberg R, et al. The size of the disease relevant IgE antibody fraction in relation to “total-IgE” predicts the efficacy of anti-IgE (Xolair) treatment. Allergy. 2009;64:1472–1477
  28. Di Lorenzo G, Mansueto P, Pacor ML, Rizzo M, Castello F, Martinelli N, et al. Evaluation of serum s-IgE/total IgE ratio in predicting clinical response to allergen-specific immunotherapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;123:1103–1110
  29. Hamilton RG, McGlashan DW, Saini SS. IgE antibody specific activity in human allergic disease. Immunol Res. 2010;Jan 12[e pub]
  30. Yunginger JW, Ahlstedt S, Eggleston PA, Homburger HA, Nelson HS, Ownby DR, et al. Quantitative IgE antibody assays in allergic diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000;105:1077–1084
  31. Johansson SG, Yman L. In vitro assays for immunoglobulin E: methodology, indications, and interpretation. Clin Rev Allergy. 1988;6:93–139
  32. Hamilton RG. Responsibility for quality IgE antibody results rests ultimately with the referring physician. [editorial] Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001;86:353–355
  33. Dolan WK. It is not yet time to stop skin testing, but…. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000;105:1074–1076

 Supported by Internal Johns Hopkins University funds.

 Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: R. G. Hamilton has received research support from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. P. B. Williams has declared that he has no conflict of interest.

PII: S0091-6749(10)00513-0

doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.03.014

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 126, Issue 1 , Pages 33-38 , July 2010

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