tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13939100.post7481503134321761669..comments2023-12-28T11:12:31.132-05:00Comments on Planet Lactose: "Food Detective" Home Allergy Test FlunksSteve Carperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04233930058408428963noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13939100.post-31722441729506722042010-03-20T21:16:50.120-04:002010-03-20T21:16:50.120-04:00That's simply wrong. Anaphylactic reactions ar...That's simply wrong. Anaphylactic reactions are caused by the IgE antibodies. That is, in fact, their usual definition. <br /><br />http://www.anaesthetist.com/icu/organs/immune/Findex.htm#anaphylaxis.htm<br /><br />Of the nine different immunoglobulins (Ig) in man --- IgM, IgG1 to IgG4, IgE, IgA1 and IgA2, and IgD --- only IgE is associated with atopy and anaphylaxis. It's a very special molecule. <br /><br />That definition may be overly broad for technical use, but it is what is current.<br /><br />http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/135065-overview<br /><br />Anaphylaxis has no universally accepted clinical definition. The traditional nomenclature for anaphylaxis reserves the term anaphylactic for IgE-dependent reactions and the term anaphylactoid for IgE-independent events, which are clinically indistinguishable. The World Allergy Organization, which is an international umbrella organization representing more than 70 national and regional professional societies dedicated to allergy and clinical immunology, has recommended replacing this terminology with immunologic (IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated [eg, IgG and immune complex complement-mediated]) and non-immunologic anaphylaxis.<br /><br />Whatever term the profession decides for technical usage, it's clear that it will involve IgE-mediated reactions, and not IgM.Steve Carperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04233930058408428963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13939100.post-44075531970530186522010-03-20T20:19:30.392-04:002010-03-20T20:19:30.392-04:00Anaphylactic reactions are caused by IgM antibodie...Anaphylactic reactions are caused by IgM antibodies, not IgE or IgG.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13939100.post-23053237888754605752010-01-17T14:31:45.077-05:002010-01-17T14:31:45.077-05:00Your point about the confusion of IgE and IgG is r...Your point about the confusion of IgE and IgG is reasonable, but the conclusion that it's down to marketing people probably isn't. Because IgG antibodies are usually helpful - they are our defence against infection - the medical convention is that the word "allergy" shouln't be used in this context. <br /><br />Instead, the general (and indequate) term "food intolerance" is normally used. Which, as you say, also includes lactose intolerance or fructose intolerance. In Northern Europe, lactose intolerance is only about 2% of the population (versus the majority of people in most parts of the world), so the group of intolerances - or "IgG-mediated allergic reactions" if you prefer - measured by the Food Detective is much bigger, and a lot closer to the 40% figure you mention, than lactose intolerance.PeteConryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11658727918312618922noreply@blogger.com