Serological methods in the diagnosis and management of human allergic disease.

The diagnosis and management of human allergic disease is aided by serological measurements involving the quantitation of total human serum IgE, allergen-specific IgE and allergen-specific IgG. Initially, a brief overview of immediate hypersensitivity reactions will be presented with a focus on the role of "reaginic" allergen-specific IgE antibody. The principles and design of immunoassay methods employed in the measurement of total serum IgE and allergen-specific human IgE will then be examined with a discussion of the pros and cons of different radioallergosorbent test (RAST) reporting schemes. Next, Hymenoptera venom will be used as a model allergen system for exploring the clinical utility, principles and design of immunoassays used to quantitate allergen-specific IgG antibody in human serum. Examples of the utility of specific IgG measurements will be provided with recent clinical data. Finally, an overview will be presented on more research-based techniques used in the study of human allergic responses such as cross-immunoelectrophoresis and immunoassays for leukotrienes, prostaglandins, platelet Factor 4 and cyclic AMP.