Evaluation of IgG RAST FEIA for the assay of venom-specific IgG antibodies during venom immunotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Successful venom immunotherapy (VIT) in Hymenoptera allergy is usually associated with a strong increase in venom-specific serum IgG antibodies (sIgG).


METHODS
We evaluated a new commercial test for the assay of sIgG (Pharmacia CAP Systemtrade mark IgG RAST(R) FEIA; FEIA), in comparison with a conventional ELISA technique. Sera from 40 bee- and 40 Vespula-allergic patients were analyzed by FEIA and ELISA before and 3 months after starting VIT.


RESULTS
The correlation between sIgG obtained with the two methods was significant: r = 0.862, p<0.0001 for bee venom (BV), r = 0.861, p<0.0001 for Vespula venom (VV). The geometric mean values obtained with FEIA were higher for both venoms (BV p = 0.03; VV p<0. 01). A highly significant increase (p<0.0001) was observed during VIT with both methods. This increase was concordant in 93% of VV- and 90% of BV-treated patients. Intra- and interassay relative coefficients of variation were below 10% for FEIA.


CONCLUSIONS
IgG RAST FEIA is a reproducible and sensitive method for the assay of venom-specific sIgG.
Meier
P
P
Division of Internal Medicine, Zieglerspital, Bern, Switzerland.
Müller
U
U
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000592:standards; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D001514:Bee Venoms; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014862:Wasp Venoms