Administering IgE antagonists during pregnancy to ameliorate allergic diseases in the offspring

摘要

The invention relates to IgE antagonists, including monoclonal antibodies, and their use in ameliorating asthma and allergic diseases in offspring of mothers treated during pregnancy with such antagonists. The preferred IgE antagonists do not induce release of the mediators of allergy. One example of such IgE antagonists are anti-IgE antibodies which bind to secreted IgE, to membrane IgE on the surface of IgE-producing B cells, but not to IgE bound to the Fc∈RI on the surface of basophils or mast cells. Preferably, these antibodies also do not bind to IgE bound to Fc∈RII receptors. It is also preferable if these antibodies have human IgG1 or IgG3 constant regions, as well as further human portions, if desired.