title: Quantitation of immunoglobulin E antibody to cytomegalovirus by antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: An antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for detection of immunoglobulin E antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV-IgE). Affinity-purified anti-human IgE-coated microtiter plates were used to separate IgE from other classes of antibody in serum. Virus-specific IgE was detected by subsequent incubation with horseradish peroxidase-labeled CMV antigen and substrate. The assay was shown to be very sensitive, since in most positive sera CMV-IgE was still detected at a dilution of 1:5,000. Of 45 patients with primary CMV infection, 43 (96%) were found to produce CMV-IgE. In contrast, CMV-IgE was detected in only 4 (9%) of 44 patients with recurrent CMV infection and in 1 of 144 healthy controls. Furthermore, the level of CMV-IgE in patients with recurrent CMV infection appeared to be lower than that in patients with primary infection. Preliminary examination of successive sera suggested that CMV-IgE is produced somewhat slower than CMV-IgM and -IgA but persists for a shorter period. These results suggest that CMV-IgE may be used as an indicator of primary CMV infection.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: van der Logt
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Heessen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Veen
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007073:Immunoglobulin E