THE CLINICAL ROLE OF SPECIFIC IGE AND IGG4 ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS HAVING IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR SEASONAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS

This study was designed to investigate the clinical role of specific I gG4 and IgE responses in patients during immunotherapy for seasonal al lergy. The study included 109 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollens. They were divided into the control gro up and the immunotherapy group. Serum samples were obtained at the sta rt of immunotherapy, before the pollen season and during the season. t o determine serum specific IgE and IgG4. In the control group specific IgE was significantly increased, but specific IgG4 was not changed du ring the pollen season. In the immunotherapy group specific IgE was no t significantly increased, but specific IgG4 was significantly increas ed during the season. In the patients having immunotherapy for 2 years or less. the seasonal increase in specific IgG4 related to the magnit ude of the clinical effect. In the patients having immunotherapy for 3 years or more, the seasonal increase in specific IgE related to the m agnitude of the clinical effect. In conclusion, the specific IgG4 resp onse and specific IgE response during the pollen season make a signifi cant contribution to the clinical effect of immunotherapy. However, mo dulation of specific IgE and IgG4 responses out of the pollen season w as unlikely to be an important phenomenon related to the clinical effe ct of immunotherapy.