BACKGROUND: A definitive role for allergen-specific IgG4 as either an anaphylactic or a blocking antibody, or both, remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: A population of 148 workers from two condenser plants (A and B) using @entity990 resin with @entity33380 ( @entity33381 ) was studied to evaluate the significance of @entity33381 -specific IgG4 antibody. METHODS: The workers were evaluated through questionnaire and serological investigations. RESULTS: Ninety-seven (66%) of the currently exposed workers had positive @entity33381 -specific IgE. IgE-sensitized workers in each plant had significantly more eye and nose complaints than unsensitized workers (P < 0.03). As the result of multiple logistic analysis, specific IgE antibodies was the most important predictor of work-related symptoms and its effect was greater than that of specific IgG4 (odds ratio 16.7 and 3.68, respectively). These indicate an IgE-mediated mechanism in most cases of work-related symptoms associated with @entity33381 exposure. However, it cannot be denied that specific IgG4 is an anaphylactic antibody. Furthermore, IgE-sensitized workers in these plants displayed work-related symptoms despite the presence of specific IgG4. The frequency of positive specific IgG4 in continuously exposed workers was significantly (P < 0.02) higher in plant A than in plant B, reflecting the difference of the @entity33381 levels between the two plants. In plant A, the frequency of positive specific IgG4 was significantly (P < 0.002) higher in continuously exposed workers than in intermittently exposed workers. Multiple regression analysis also confirmed that plant and exposure style contributed significantly (P < 0.01) to the determination of specific IgG4 levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that work-related eye and nasal symptoms are likely to be IgE-mediated, and that specific IgG4 may reflect the intensity of @entity33381 exposure and may not act as a blocking antibody.

The significance of specific IgG4 antibodies to XXXX in occupationally exposed subjects.

@entity990 :: ('CHEBI:30721', 'Chemical') :: ['epoxy'] @entity33381 :: ('MESH:C028341', 'Chemical') :: ['MTHPA'] @entity33380 :: ('MESH:C088343', 'Chemical') :: ['methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride']
@entity33380 :: (MESH:C088343,Chemical) :: ['methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride']
