Background: The general understanding is that a blood sample for analysis of immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies to an allergen suspected to cause an anaphylaxis cannot be drawn until several weeks after the reaction. As this is most unpractical, the changes in IgE antibody levels during anaphylaxis were studied to evaluate the possibility of using samples drawn at the time of the reaction.
Methods: Immunoglobulin E antibodies to suxamethonium were quantitated with ImmunoCAP before, during and after an anaphylactic reaction occurring during anaesthesia using neuromuscular blocking agents.
Results: Serum IgE antibody concentrations against suxamethonium in blood samples collected up to 6 h after the reaction were not different from those in samples drawn before or days and weeks after the anaphylaxis.
Conclusions: A serum sample intended to trace the drug involved in an IgE-mediated anaphylactic reaction can be drawn in direct relation to the reaction.