ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO PENICILLIN IN ANIMALS AND HUMANS.

Abstract

Mortality related directly to an allergic reaction to penicillin has been associated with anaphylactic shock. Prevention depends upon withholding penicillin from patients with a history of such allergic reactions. In the present study an antigen formed by coupling 6-amino penicillanic acid to human serum albumin by m-xylidine-diisocyanate has sensitized guinea pigs to penicillin routinely, demonstrated by skin tests and gel diffusion. Sixty-nine patients have been skin tested to the human serum albumin-penicillin complex and to crystalline penicillin G. Twice as many patients had a positive reaction to the complex as to the penicillin G. Three patients who had had a definite reaction to penicillin three weeks prior to testing showed a 20 mm or larger wheal and flare to the complex, whereas only one showed a 10 mm wheal and flare reaction to penicillin G. The antigen formed by coupling penicillin to human serum albumin by diisocyanate is more potent for sensitizing guinea pigs to penicillin and for skin testing humans for penicillin sensitivity than penicillin G or penicillin G absorbed onto human serum albumin. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0660088

Entities

People

  • Robert E. Smith

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Albumins
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies
  • Couplings
  • Diffusion
  • Rodents
  • Sensitivity
  • Shock (Pathology)
  • Skin Tests

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Allergy and Immunology.
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology