High incidence of horse serum protein allergy in various autoimmune disorders

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1977 Mar;59(3):185-9. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(77)90148-8.

Abstract

In 186 persons (68 patients suffering from different so-called autoimmune diseases, 30 kidney recipients, 38 control patients from a surgical ward, and 50 healthy volunteers) the immune response to horse IgG was examined. The lowest rate of sensitization was found in kidney transplant recipients (3%) and the highest in autoimmune patients (33%). After excluding 39 patient who had received horse serum treatment prior to the examination, it was found that without previous injection of horse serum, 27% of the patients with autoimmune disease were sensitized to horse IgG. Compared to the other groups (kidney transplant recipients, 4%: surgical controls, 0%; healthy volunteers, 3%), this difference was statistically significant (p is less than 0.01).

MeSH terms

  • Allergens*
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Blood Proteins / immunology*
  • Female
  • Horses / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Blood Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin G