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September 20, 2002
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Decrease of Specific and Total IgE Levels in Allergic Patients After BCG Vaccination" Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
(archotol.ama-assn.org) (09/01/02) Vol. 128, No. 9,; Cavallo, Giovanni P.; Elia, Mariateresa; Giordano, Daniela
Vaccination with bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) for the prevention of tuberculosis can cause symptoms that resemble mycobacterial infection. Children who have experienced tuberculin conversion following BCG vaccination appear to be more likely to lose their atopic symptoms. In addition, allergic response and airway hyperreactivity inhibitions have been noted in animal experiments. Researchers sought to determine how allergic patients react serologically to BCG vaccination. Twenty volunteers with a history of allergic rhinitis opted for the study. All were required to obtain BCG vaccination under Italian law. The scientists measured serum total IgE levels and serum allergen-specific IgE levels for each patient before BCG vaccination and four months after the dosing. The results indicated that total IgE and allergen-specific IgE levels were far lower after vaccination with BCG than prior to the treatment, indicating that the vaccine merits additional study as a possible modulator of the immune response associated with allergic rhinitis.
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