Search resultsAlcohol, IgE and allergy
Title
Alcohol, IgE and allergy
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2004
Authors
Journal
Addiction Biology
Volume
9
Issue
3-4
Pagination
195 - 204
Date published
2004
ISBN
13556215 (ISSN)
Keywords
alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholic Beverages, Alcoholism, Allergens, Allergy, anaphylaxis, angioneurotic edema, asthma, controlled study, cytokine, disease exacerbation, food allergy, human, Humans, hypersensitivity, immune response, immunoglobulin E, major clinical study, priority journal, review, Risk Factors, sensitization, urticaria
Abstract
Alcoholic drinks are involved in a variety of hypersensitivity reactions. These include flushing syndrome, anaphylactoid reactions (urticaria/angioedema and even shock), as well as the triggering of asthma, food allergy or exercise-induced anaphylaxis in susceptible subjects. In addition, there is increasing evidence that alcohol intake may play a role as a promoter of the development of immunoglobulin-E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to different allergens. It seems clear that alcohol intake (alcohol abuse and even moderate alcohol consumption) is associated with increased total serum IgE levels. Similarly, alcohol intake may be associated with allergic (IgE-mediated) sensitization to environmental allergens. The clinical significance of these facts is probably moderate. The mechanisms by which alcohol can influence IgE responses are not entirely known, but further developments in this area could increase the understanding of both allergic diseases and alcohol-induced alterations in the immune system.