title: Serum IgE and IgG to formaldehyde-human serum albumin: lack of relation to gaseous formaldehyde exposure and symptoms.
abstract: Fifty-five subjects were studied to determine if the presence of IgE or IgG antibodies to formaldehyde (F)-human serum albumin (HSA) was associated with exposure to gaseous F or with respiratory or conjunctival symptoms from such exposure. The study population included cohorts exposed to F in the workplace, smokers, and normal subjects. IgE antibody specific for F-HSA was detected by ELISA in three subjects; immediate-type skin testing was negative in two of these subjects, and not interpretable because of dermatographism in one subject. One of these subjects had a history of respiratory symptoms when the subject was working in a histology laboratory that contained ambient F and xylene; a respiratory challenge with F at concentrations of up to 2 ppm failed to produce respiratory symptoms or significant changes in pulmonary function. Serum from the three subjects with IgE to F-HSA by ELISA failed to passively transfer skin reactivity to F-HSA to rhesus monkey recipients. These three subjects and two other subjects had IgG to F-HSA by ELISA, although this was of generally low titer. We could not define a relationship between the presence of antibodies and (1) a history of F exposure or (2) a history of adverse respiratory or conjunctival symptoms from F. This study is a continuum of 5 years of study in our laboratory attempting to define allergy to gaseous F, and the current study does not support an immunologic basis for respiratory or conjunctival symptoms from gaseous F exposure. Based on the findings of this and our other studies, it is possible that clinical IgE-mediated allergy to gaseous F does not exist, or if it does exist, it is extremely rare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill 60611.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dykewicz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cugell
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005557:Formaldehyde; D007073:Immunoglobulin E