title: Allergic memory of patients sensitized to castor bean after a long stimulation-free period.
abstract: We have taken advantage of the temporary exposure of Marseilles population to castor bean seed proteins to follow 26 allergic patients more than 20 years after sensitization. Skin tests, specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody assays, and specific immunoblots were performed. Skin test reactivity to Ricinus Communis and specific IgE concentrations decreased progressively and almost completely disappeared after 20 years. Specific IgE concentration displayed a fairly exponential decrease, with a half-life of 4.7 years. Thus, in the absence of any antigenic stimulation, directly by castor bean, or indirectly by cross-reactivity to other Euphorbiaceae, especially latex, IgE sensitization is bound to disappear.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'immunologie, Université de la Méditerranée, Hôpital de Sainte Marguerite, Marseille, France. valerie.marin@ap-hm.fr
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saraga
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ariano
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chouquet
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dispard
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bongrand
authors.forename: Raphael C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Panzani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000276:immunology*; D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D012639:Seeds; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D007073:Immunoglobulin E