Immunoglobulin E in acute phase response to surgical stress.
BACKGROUND
A few years ago we reported that acute myocardial infarction is associated with a distinct, transient rise in serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E.


OBJECTIVE
We wondered whether this response is specific only for myocardial infarction or whether it reflects a more generalized phenomenon, precipitated by tissue injury.


METHODS
We carried out a large prospective study on 149 patients undergoing various surgical procedures. These were the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, who did (n = 39) or did not (n = 42) develop perioperative myocardial infarction, patients subjected to various thoracic operations (n = 33), cholecystectomy (n = 17) or repair of the inguinal hernia (n = 18). Thirty healthy volunteers formed the control group.


RESULTS
In all groups studied, except the control group, serum IgE levels began to rise shortly after the operation, reached a peak by the fifth postoperative day, and then gradually declined. This was in striking contrast to serum immunoglobulin G which soon after the operation became markedly depressed, and took more than a week to return to preoperative values. Specific IgE against common aeroallergens, measured in a subgroup of patients with initially high total serum IgE, showed no uniform pattern of change.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical operations are accompanied by a characteristic, transient rise in serum IgE concentration. Immunoglobulin E might be involved in acute phase response to tissue injury.
Szczeklik
A
A
Department of Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Cracow, Poland.
Jawień
J
J
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012773:Shock, Surgical / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E