title: Detection of thiopentone-reactive IgE antibodies following anaphylactoid reactions during anaesthesia.
abstract: A radioimmunoassay was developed to detect IgE antibodies to the anaesthetic induction agent thiopentone. Significant levels of thiopentone-reactive IgE antibodies were found in the sera of two patients who had experienced life-threatening anaphylactoid reactions following administration of the drug. Inhibition experiments revealed that cross-reactivity occurs between the drug-reactive IgE antibodies and four barbiturate analogues pentobarbitone, phenobarbitone, barbitone and methohexital. The assay should supplement skin testing for the detection of patients with potentially lethal sensitivity to thiopentone.
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D013874:Thiopental / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D013874:Thiopental