Allergy development after bone marrow transplantation from a non-atopic donor.
BACKGROUND
Transfer of allergy from atopic bone marrow donors to recipients is known to occur. Development of allergy in a non-atopic patient transplanted from a non-atopic donor is an unfamiliar phenomenon in clinical practice.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the course of events causing a bone marrow recipient to acquire an allergic disease in such non-conducive circumstances.


METHODS
Full medical history, prick and intradermal skin tests, and serum IgE levels were obtained from both donor and recipient patients. DNA and red blood cell phenotype analyses were used to detect the degree of chimerism.


RESULTS
Only the recipient patient showed positive specific IgE antibodies and skin tests to house dust mite. The recipient patient displayed 100% donor chimera, based on all engraftment markers sought.


CONCLUSIONS
Full engraftment after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may be associated with modulation of T and B cell function, which in turn could cause the onset of allergic disease after bone marrow transplantation.
Shalit
M
M
Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. shalit@hadassah.org.il
Amar
A
A
Or
R
R
D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods
D007073:Immunoglobulin E