title: IgE antibodies against Neisseria flavescens.
abstract: Bacterial allergy is still a matter of controversy. We sustain that this name should be employed only in the presence of a specific IgE against antigens from bacteria. In 100 atopic patients and 100 healthy controls with Neisseria flavescens in their pharyngeal exudates, we performed type I immediate skin tests with Neisseria flavescens and IgE-RAST throughout 1 year. Positive wheal and flare reactions were elicited in 8 of 100 atopic patients as well as in 3 of 100 nonatopic subjects. IgE-RAST/anti-Neisseria flavescens was found in 6 of the former group and in 1 of the latter. Neither late-phase nor Arthus-like reactions were recorded. Neisseria flavescens is a non-pathogenic commensal of the oropharynx with scarce antigenic properties and seems not to play an important role in these conditions (rhinitis/asthma). Bacterial immunotherapy should be considered only in the presence of specific IgE antibodies with careful selection of the bacteria or their antigens.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Alergia e Inmunología, Hospital de Clínicas, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Scavini
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pionetti
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lewkowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009343:Neisseria / Q000276:immunology*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007073:Immunoglobulin E