Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of four Aspergillus-specific IgG assays for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Measurement of Aspergillus-specific IgG is central to the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), but manufacturers' guidance on test interpretation is based on unpublished data. We performed the first receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) analysis to identify optimal cut-offs for this test in relation to European controls. Aspergillus-specific IgG levels were measured in sera from British adults with CPA and European healthy controls by ImmunoCAP, Immulite, Serion and Bio-Rad assays.

Occupational allergy to flowers: immunoblot analysis of allergens in freesia, gerbera and chrysanthemum pollen.

High exposure to pollen from ornamental flowers can induce an IgE-mediated occupational allergy in florists and horticulture workers. We investigated IgE-binding antigens in chrysanthemum, freesia and gerbera pollen by immunoblot analysis and analysed the cross-reactivity of these pollen with birch, grass and mugwort pollen. In immunoblots with chrysanthemum pollen, major IgE-binding structures were seen with a molecular weight (MW) of approximately 25, 45 and 65 kD.

Between-laboratory quality control of automated analysis of IgG antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus.

Measurement of IgG antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus is an important criterion for the diagnosis of aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and extrinsic allergic alveolitis. In the present study, we compared IgG antibody analysis against A. fumigatus using 2 widely used automated immunochemistry systems.

Potential value of serum total IgE for differentiation between autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is associated with a marked elevation of serum total IgG₄ . Although there is evidence of autoimmunity in AIP, there are also signs of an allergic nature of its pathogenesis. Therefore, we determined both IgE and IgG₄ in 13 patients with AIP, in 12 patients with pancreatic carcinoma and in 14 patients with atopic allergy and investigated the relationship between IgE and IgG₄ .