High IgE in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is complexed with anti‐IgE autoantibodies

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 1999-01, Vol.115 (1), p.183-188
• Main Authors: MILLAUER, N, ZUERCHER, A. W, MIESCHER, S. M, GERBER, H. A, SEITZ, M, STADLER, B. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; allergy; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - immunology; Antibody Specificity; Antigen-Antibody Complex - blood; anti‐IgE; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Autoantibodies - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity - blood; Hypersensitivity - immunology; IgE; Immunoblotting; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Immunoglobulin A - immunology; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Immunoglobulin M - immunology; Inflammatory joint diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Original; rheumatoid arthritis; rheumatoid factor; Rheumatoid Factor - blood
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.00787.x

This study presents data on more than 300 RA and allergic patients analysed for their serum levels of anti‐immunoglobulin isotype autoantibodies and IgE. We observed high levels of IgE in sera of RA and allergic patients. Interestingly, we measured significantly higher specific IgE levels against Alternaria but not against nine other allergens in the RA compared with the allergic group. As expected, anti‐IgG autoantibodies (rheumatoid factors (RF)) of different isotypes were detected in sera from RA patients only. However, we found increased titres of complexed anti‐IgE autoantibodies in all RF+ groups and in the allergic group. These findings may explain why despite elevated IgE levels a decreased prevalence of allergic diseases in RA patients has been observed.