title: Changes in cat specific IgE and IgG antibodies with decreased cat exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current understanding of the effects of reducing exposure to cat allergens is limited. It has also become clear that there are different forms of immune response to cat allergens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate changes in skin tests and cat specific IgG and IgE antibodies when students from a home with a cat move to a college dormitory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven college students participated in a prospective study that consisted of allergy skin prick testing and serum measurement of IgE and IgG antibodies to cat at the beginning and end of one academic year in college. A subgroup returned for follow-up at the end of 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 97 students, 33% had IgG antibodies to Fel d 1 but no evidence of sensitization, 25% had positive skin test results and/or serum IgE antibodies, and 42% had negative skin test results and no detectable serum antibodies. Among the non-cat sensitized students with IgG antibodies, the titers decreased during 8 months (P = .002). Titers of IgG4 to Fel d 1 also decreased (P < .001). Among the sensitized students, no change in IgE antibodies to cat occurred in 8 months (P = .20), whereas Fel d 1 specific IgG antibodies decreased (P < .001). Thus, ratios of IgG to IgE decreased highly significantly (P = .007). Among the students with negative skin test results who returned for follow-up (n = 56), none developed positive skin test results or serum IgE antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under conditions of marked decrease in exposure, no participants developed new-onset sensitization. Among the individuals sensitized at study entry, there were major decreases in the ratio of IgG to IgE.
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Electronic address: Elizabeth.Erwin@NationwideChildrens.org.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Erwin
authors.affiliation: Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Woodfolk
authors.affiliation: Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Hayley R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Shama M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Satinover
authors.affiliation: Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Thomas A E
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Platts-Mills
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus
references.citation: J Exp Med. 2008 Nov 24;205(12):2887-98
references.pmid: 19001136
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 2003 Jul;33(7):986-91
references.pmid: 12859457
references.citation: Allergy. 2008 Nov;63(11):1455-63
references.pmid: 18925882
references.citation: J Pediatr. 1992 Dec;121(6):862-6
references.pmid: 1447646
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Jan;115(1):74-9
references.pmid: 15637550
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 2002 Mar;32(3):335-8
references.pmid: 11940058
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 2011 Jul;41(7):979-86
references.pmid: 21668818
references.citation: PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e43214
references.pmid: 22952649
references.citation: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001 Mar;163(3 Pt 1):694-8
references.pmid: 11254526
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Nov;110(5):736-42
references.pmid: 12417882
references.citation: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 May;151(5):1388-92
references.pmid: 7735590
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 May;115(5):1029-35
references.pmid: 15867862
references.citation: Lancet. 2000 May 13;355(9216):1680-3
references.pmid: 10905243
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 2013 Feb;43(2):233-41
references.pmid: 23331564
references.citation: Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990 Feb;141(2):361-7
references.pmid: 2301854
references.citation: JAMA. 2002 Aug 28;288(8):963-72
references.pmid: 12190366
references.citation: Lancet. 2001 Mar 10;357(9258):752-6
references.pmid: 11253969
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 2005 Feb;35(2):193-8
references.pmid: 15725191
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1989 Apr;83(4):730-4
references.pmid: 2708734
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 May;113(5):983-6
references.pmid: 15131584
references.citation: Allergy. 2006 Mar;61(3):370-4
references.pmid: 16436148
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001 Oct;108(4):537-9
references.pmid: 11590378
references.citation: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2012 Apr;108(4):223.e1-15
references.pmid: 22469456
references.citation: J Immunol. 2004 Mar 1;172(5):2763-72
references.pmid: 14978075
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 1989 Jul;19(4):419-24
references.pmid: 2758355
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Aug;116(2):384-9
references.pmid: 16083794
references.citation: Clin Exp Allergy. 1999 May;29(5):611-7
references.pmid: 10231320
references.citation: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Sep 1;166(5):696-702
references.pmid: 12204868
references.citation: Allergy. 2005 Apr;60(4):541-2
references.pmid: 15727595
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Apr;131(4):972-6
references.pmid: 23398655
references.citation: Allergy. 2007 Jul;62(7):810-7
references.pmid: 17573730
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2011 Feb 24;364(8):701-9
references.pmid: 21345099
references.citation: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006 Jul 1;174(1):21-5
references.pmid: 16603608
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Feb;129(2):420-5
references.pmid: 22168997
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2002 Sep 19;347(12):869-77
references.pmid: 12239255
references.citation: Allergy. 1999 Jun;54(6):612-6
references.pmid: 10435476
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999 Jun;103(6):1018-24
references.pmid: 10359880
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Feb;119(2):428-33
references.pmid: 17196246