Will Anti-IgE Therapy Compromise Normal Immune Functions?
Bob Q. Lanier1, Tse Wen Chang2 1University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA 2National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan (118 KB) Abstract Background: The emergence of the novel therapeutic humanized anti-IgE antibody (omalizumab), which acts in part by tying up the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody class, has given pause for reexamination of the essential functions of IgE. In particular, will anti-IgE therapy open up the human body to complications such as parasite infections and cancer, and adverse events involving other entities newly introduced by its administration? Methods/Data base: A detailed survey and analysis of (a) the studies that investigate the possible roles of IgE on the defense against parasites and malignancy, (b) the results relating to adverse events observed during the clinical studies of anti-IgE antibodies, in which more than 6,000 patients received the drugs, and (c) the experience of over 20,000 human patients who have received omaliz
