title: Serological methods in the diagnosis and management of human allergic disease.
abstract: The diagnosis and management of human allergic disease is aided by serological measurements involving the quantitation of total human serum IgE, allergen-specific IgE and allergen-specific IgG. Initially, a brief overview of immediate hypersensitivity reactions will be presented with a focus on the role of "reaginic" allergen-specific IgE antibody. The principles and design of immunoassay methods employed in the measurement of total serum IgE and allergen-specific human IgE will then be examined with a discussion of the pros and cons of different radioallergosorbent test (RAST) reporting schemes. Next, Hymenoptera venom will be used as a model allergen system for exploring the clinical utility, principles and design of immunoassays used to quantitate allergen-specific IgG antibody in human serum. Examples of the utility of specific IgG measurements will be provided with recent clinical data. Finally, an overview will be presented on more research-based techniques used in the study of human allergic responses such as cross-immunoelectrophoresis and immunoassays for leukotrienes, prostaglandins, platelet Factor 4 and cyclic AMP.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011786:Quality Control; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E