PENICILLIN AND CEPHALOSPORIN IMMUNOGENICITY IN MAN

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (6) , 337-340
Abstract
Whether cross-allergenicity exists between the penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics is controversial. A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was adapted to detect drug-specific Ig[immunoglobulin]G, IgM and IgE antibodies. Penicillin and cephalothin-specific serum Ig were determined in patients'' serum before and after a therapeutic course of sodium cephalothin. Changes in IgG, IgM and IgE antipenicillin and anticephalothin antibodies, respectively, occurred and were closely correlated to one another (r [correlation coefficient] = 0.80-0.99, P < 0.0005), indicating that antibody responses to penicillin and cephalothin were linked. This in vitro assay system should prove useful for further study of clinical drug allergies.