Anti-plasticizer specific IgE is present in the serum of transfused patients

Mark L. Salkie
Judith L. Hannon

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta Hospitals and the Canadian Red Cross Society Blood Services, Edmonton, Alberta

(Original manuscript submitted 31/1/95; received in revised form 16/5/95; accepted 21/6/95)

Abstract

Sera from 29 patients who had reacted to a platelet (27) or packed red cell (2) transfusion and from 5 patients who had received platelets without reacting were collected over a 13-month period. The sera were assayed for total IgE, and IgE specific for ethylene oxide, phthalic anhydride, hexamethylene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and mast cell tryptase. Three patients with reactions had elevated total IgE levels, and specific IgE was positive for hexamethylene diisocyanate in 2 of 28 (7.1%), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate in 1 of 29 (3.4%), and toluene diisocyanate in 14 of 27 (51.9%). No positives were found in the patients without reactions and no patients had an elevated tryptase level. It is unlikely that antiplasticizer hypersensitivity was responsable for the transfusion reactions, but the prevalence and significance of such antibodies in both the hospital population and the general population would merit further investigation.

Clin Invest Med 1995; 18 (6): 419-423

Table of contents: CIM vol. 18, no. 6