Sensitization to gelatin in children with systemic non-immediate-type reactions to varicella vaccines.
BACKGROUND
We recently found that four children who experienced systemic immediate-type reactions to varicella vaccine with gelatin had anti-gelatin IgE. We also found systemic non-immediate-type allergic reactions, which mainly consist of systemic cutaneous signs, appearing several hours or more after the vaccination.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between immune responses to gelatin and non-immediate-type reactions to gelatin-containing varicella vaccines, we measured anti-gelatin IgE and IgG in the sera of the children with these allergic reactions.


METHODS
Serum samples were taken from 21 children who showed non-immediate-type reactions to varicella vaccines. As a positive control, serum samples were taken from 33 children who showed immediate-type reactions to varicella vaccine and had anti-gelatin IgE. As a negative control, serum samples were taken from 50 children who showed no reaction to the vaccine. We then examined anti-gelatin IgE and IgG in sera of the children.


RESULTS
Of 21 children with non-immediate-type reactions, two (10%) had anti-gelatin IgE and six (29%) had anti-gelatin IgG. In the positive control group, all 33 children with immediate-type reactions had anti-gelatin IgG as well as IgE. In the negative control group, all 50 children who showed no allergic reaction to varicella vaccines had neither anti-gelatin IgE nor IgG.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the possibility exists that some non-immediate-type reactions to varicella vaccine are caused by immune reactions to gelatin.
Sakaguchi
M
M
Department of Medical Technology, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan.
Miyazawa
H
H
Inouye
S
S
D000799:Angioedema / Q000276:immunology; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D004890:Erythema / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014581:Urticaria / Q000276:immunology
D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005780:Gelatin