SERUM DETECTION OF TYPE SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES TO RAGWEED.

摘要

It has been postulated that a blocking antibody was the protective mechanism produced by injections in allergic and non-allergic individuals. This study was designed to detect the antibody against ragweed in non-treated patients and to determine the change,if any,in the type of antibody or antibody titers after a course of hyposensitization to the specific allergen, ragweed. Sera were drawn from 12 ragweed sensitive patients prior to hyposensitization with ragweed extract. The sera demonstrated antibody activity against ragweed only in the IG sub a fraction of their immunoglobulins when the fluorescent antibody technique of A. H. Coons was used. At the end of six months of hyposensitization,antibody activity was found in the IG sub g as well as the IG sub a fraction. The sera of these patients also blocked the precipitin reaction in the gel of sensitized rabbits. (Author)