Specific IgE and IgG to gelatin in children with systemic cutaneous reactions to Japanese encephalitis vaccines.
BACKGROUND
Systemic allergic reactions to Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine that include urticaria, angioedema, and rash have been reported. In Japan, children who suffered from allergic immediate-type reactions to JE vaccine had antigelatin IgE in their sera. However, the immunologic mechanism of allergic nonimmediate-type reactions that consist of cutaneous signs appearing several hours or more after JE vaccination has not been defined.


METHODS
Serum samples were taken from 28 children who showed allergic nonimmediate-type cutaneous reactions to JE vaccine. Furthermore, serum samples were taken from 10 children who showed allergic immediate-type reactions with cutaneous signs and/or respiratory symptoms to JE vaccine. We have defined an immediate-type reaction as one occurring within 1 h after vaccination.


RESULTS
Of 10 children who showed immediate-type reactions, all had antigelatin IgE and IgG. Of 28 children who showed systemic nonimmediate-type reactions, one had antigelatin IgE and nine (32%) had antigelatin IgG. The child who had antigelatin IgE showed urticaria 2 h after JE vaccination.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that some children who showed allergic nonimmediate-type reactions to JE vaccine were sensitized to gelatin.
Sakaguchi
M
M
Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
Miyazawa
H
H
Inouye
S
S
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007564:Japan; D022321:Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022321:Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005780:Gelatin