IgG antibody against formaldehyde human serum proteins: a comparison with other IgG antibodies against inhalant proteins and reactive chemicals.
Immune responses to formaldehyde (F) have been recorded for seven decades. More recently, sensitive assays for antibody against F-human serum albumin (HSA) have been reported. IgG antibody against F-HSA has been said to correlate with symptoms against F-HSA. We report on 61 serum samples analyzed for IgG antibodies against F-HSA. IgG antibodies against F-HSA were most prevalent in subjects who had received intravenous F. In no case (either presumed symptomatic to F or with IgG antibody against F-HSA) was there a correlation of serologic results with symptoms. We also reviewed inhalation disease caused by chemicals and proteins acting as immunogens and report that at this time there is no evidence that gaseous F meets the criteria for causation of inhalational IgG-mediated lung disease by clinical or serologic studies. Very high IgG antibody levels occur in respiratory immunologic inhalational disease, and the absence of these high IgG levels against F is strong evidence against F or F proteins being an inhalational antigen of significance.
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.
R
R
Patterson
M S
MS
Dykewicz
R
R
Evans
L C
LC
Grammer
P A
PA
Greenberger
K E
KE
Harris
I D
ID
Lawrence
J J
JJ
Pruzansky
M
M
Roberts
M A
MA
Shaughnessy
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C044105:formaldehyde-serum albumin; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine