RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Is there a role for treatment of asthma with omalizumab?
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 71
OP 74
DO 10.1136/adc.88.1.71
VO 88
IS 1
A1 H Milgrom
YR 2003
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/88/1/71.abstract
AB The allergic response is distinct from other immune reactions in its reliance on IgE, its high affinity receptor, FcεRI, and the primary effector cell—the tissue mast cell. Positive skin tests or raised concentrations of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the serum define IgE sensitisation or “atopy”. IgE participates both in immediate hypersensitivity response and in the induction of chronic allergic inflammation. It enhances allergen capture and Th2 cell activation, and may trigger other immunoregulatory pathways. Considerable effort in therapeutic research has focused on interference with IgE function because of its position high in the allergic cascade. Therapy with anti-IgE is one such approach that shows much promise.