title: [Immune complexes in allergies: evidence of IgE-containing immune complexes in Churg-Strauss vasculitis].
abstract: In five patients with vasculitis, hypereosinophilia and elevated serum-IgE levels, the diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome was established. To identify a possible role of IgE in pathogenic mechanisms leading to vasculitis, a sequential precipitation of patients' sera was performed using various concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG). Using a radioimmunosorbent test, the precipitates obtained were tested for their IgE contents. Considerable amounts of IgE were found in the serum precipitates of all patients. In parallel studies, no IgE-containing precipitates were detected in sera from patients with different allergic diseases and high IgE serum levels. The demonstration of IgE-containing PEG precipitable material in all patients suffering from Churg-Strauss syndrome, together with the finding of an elevated C3d and C4 level and a decreased C3 level in one patient and an increased C3d level in a second patient, suggests that IgE-containing immune complexes play a pathogenic role in the Churg-Strauss syndrome.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D013577:Syndrome; D018366:Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
vernacular_title: Immunkomplexe bei Allergien: Nachweis von IgE-haltigen Immunkomplexen bei der Vaskulitis Churg-Strauss.