Specific IgG to gelatin in children with systemic immediate- and nonimmediate-type reactions to measles, mumps and rubella vaccines

We examined anti-gelatin IgG in sera of children who suffered from systemic adverse reactions upon immunization with gelatin-containing live virus vaccines. In the group of 30 children who had immediate-type reactions and anti-gelatin IEE, 30 (100%) had anti-gelatin IgG and 29 (96%) had anti-gelatin IgG(4). In another group of 75 children who had nonimmediate-type reactions and no anti-gelatin IEE, 22 (29%) had anti-gelatin IgG and six (8%) had IgG(4). The Ige positivity well correlated with the lymphocyte proliferation assay positivity. In contrast, as a negative control, all 24 children who had no allergic reaction to live virus vaccines had no anti-gelatin IgG and IgG(4). The results suggest that immune-response to gelatin may play a role in the pathogenesis of systemic nonimmediate-type reactions to the live virus vaccines. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.