title: IgE antipolymyxin B antibody formation in a T cell-depleted bone marrow transplant patient.
abstract: The production of IgE-class antibody specific for polymyxin B is documented in an 18-year-old white female acute myelocytic leukemic patient in relapse. The patient was rendered T cell-deficient by total body X-irradiation and antihuman thymocyte globulin for the purpose of bone marrow transplatation. Thereafter, symptoms of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and perinasal urtication produced by topical application of a polymyxin solution were noted. Reaginic activity mediated by an IgE antibody against polymyxin is documented by Prausnbitz-Küstner-type passive transfer reactions and by an indirect hemagglutination technique developed for these studies. The occurrence of type I hypersensitivity to this topical antibiotic is rare. It is speculated that pharmaceuticals normally having a low sensitizing potential might demonstrate increased reaginic immunogenicity in a spontaneously or iatrogenically T cell-depleted patient.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006433:Hemocyanins; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D037102:Lectins; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D010357:Patient Isolators; D011113:Polymyxins; D011817:Rabbits; D011830:Radiation Effects; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D037102:Lectins; D011113:Polymyxins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006433:Hemocyanins