Allergies in the Allergic Person, Who Has Excess IgE Antibodies

Some people have an allergic tendency.

Their allergies are called atopic allergies b/c they are caused by a nonordinary response of the immune syst.
Allergic tendency is genetically passed from parent to child characterized by large quantities of IgE antibodies in the blood. These antibodies are called reagins.

When an allergen enters the body, an allergen-reagin reaction takes place allergic reaction occurs.

IgE antibodies (the reagins) has a strong property to attach to mast cells and basophils.

Single mast cell or basophil can bind as many as half a million molecules of IgE antibodies. When (an allergen) that has multiple binding sites binds with several IgE antibodies attached to a mast cell or basophils, immediate change in the memb of the mast cell or basophil.

 Many of the mast cells and basophils rupturerelease special agents including Histamine, Protease, Slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (which is a mixture of toxic leukotrienes), Eosinophil chemotactic subt, Neutrophil chemotactic subt , Heparin,& platelet activating factors

 These substance cause such effects:

Dilation of the local blood vessels;

Attraction of eosinophils and neutrophils to the reactive site;

Increased permeability of the capillaries

Contraction of local smooth muscle cell.

Anaphylaxis.

When a specific allergen is injected directly into the circulation, react with basophils & mast cells

Widespread allergic reaction occurs throughout the vascular syst & closely associated tissues. This is called anaphylaxis. Histamine is released into the circulation causes body-wide vasodilation increased permeability of the capillaries with resultant marked loss of plasma from the circulation.

 An occasion person dies of circulatory shock within a few min unless treated with epinephrine to oppose the effects of the histamine.
From the activated basophils and mast cells is a mixture of leukotrienes called slow-reacting subt of anaphylaxis. Leukotrienes can cause spasm of the smooth muscle of the bronchioles, eliciting an asthmalike attack, causing death by suffocation.

Urticaria. Antigen entering specific skin areas and causing localized anaphylactoid reactions. Histamine released locally causes (1) vasodilation that induces an immediate red flare (2)increased local permeability of the capillaries leads to local circumscribed areas of swelling of the skin. Swellings are commonly called hives. Administration of antihistamine drugs to a person before exposure will prevent the hives.

Hay Fever
Allergen-reagin reaction occurs in the nose. Histamine released causes local intranasal vascular dilation increased capillary pressure & increased capillary permeability.

Cause rapid fluid leakage into the nasal cavities and deeper tissues of the nose nasal linings become swollen and secretory (allergic rhinitis).
Antihistamine drugs can prevent this swelling reaction. Other products of the allergen reagin reaction cause

 Asthma often occurs in the allergic type of person allergen-reagin reaction occurs in the bronchioles of the lungs product released from the mast cells is slowreacting substance of anaphylaxis, causes spasm of the bronchiolar smooth muscle. Person has difficulty in breathing until the reactive products of the allergic reaction have been removed. Administration of antihistaminics has less effect on the course of asthma because histamine does not appear to be the major factor eliciting the asthmatic reaction.

Asthma.

Leukotrienes
20 Carbon containing fatty acids derivatives of A,B,C,D and E types. Produce tremendous of smooth muscles of pulmonary airways leading to bronchospasm . Leukotrienes C4, D4, E4 represent the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis.