IgG subclasses in farmer's lung
Ojanen, T.H.; Terho, E.O.; Mäntyjärvi, R.A.
European Journal of Respiratory Diseases. Supplement 154: 145-150
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0106-4347 PMID: 3480825 Document Number: 294659
The antibodies of IgG and IgG subclasses IgG3 and IgG4 against Aspergillus umbrosus, A. fumigatus, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and Micropolyspora faeni [Faenia rectivirgula] were measured by ELISA in 13 patients (9 women and 4 men) diagnosed as having farmer's lung. Antibody levels were made during follow-up periods of 18-27 months and results were compared with results of pulmonary function tests. In the acute phase of the disease, all except 1 patient had antibodies of IgG, IgG3 and IgG4 against at least one of the microbes tested. Most patients had antibodies against both the actinomycetes and the fungi. Antibodies against A. umbrosus and T. vulgaris were detected most often, and IgG and IgG3 antibodies were the most common.