i may be way off base here -- & i hope someone will correct me if i am <g> -- but what i remember learning about a year ago (when our last bimbo allergiest swore that my daughter was "no longer allergic to dairy"), is that food allergies that involve one/more of the "typical" reactions (what most people would recognize as "allergic reactions), like anaphylaxis, rash, hives, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea (so glad i just finished lunch), etc involve IgE antibodies; antibodies that are found in most major systems/organs of the body (digestive tract, which is why you'd see closing of the esophagus, the vomiting or diarrhea), skin (the hives/rashes), & respiratory (trouble breathing), & possibly even cardiovascular. so, IgE mediated GI reactions usually don't occur in isolation of other kinds of reactions in other parts of the body. (again, i think...) it's IgE food-specific allergies that are tested when you think of the typical scratch tests that are done in a doctor's office.  they can also do cap rast test, that i'm guessing looks at relative levels of these kinds of food-specific antibodies in the blood.

then there are also food allergies that are considered more strictly gastrointestinal bc all the action's just in the GI system, & mediated by antibodies that are found more exclusively (if not entirely???) in the GI system, like IgG antibodies (& evaluated by blood test alone vs. skin test). then there are ALSO other kinds of GI specific problems that aren't specifically an allergy, like lactose intolerance, but might cause similar or identical GI symptoms. you can also have GI disturbances caused by excessive amounts or infilatrations (infiltrating into places they shouldn't be) of eosinophils. eosinophils are one kind of cell that's found in the blood, but i have no recollection of why or what they're supposed to do. i do recall the GI doc telling me that gastroenteritis caused by eosinophils can be treated w/ oral steroids (like some of the newer asthma drugs) vs. a complete avoidance of all dairy.

hope this is helpful....marla

Marla Shapiro, Ph.D.
MSC 5A0622
Regents Center for Learning Disorders
Georgia State University
33 Gilmer Street SE, Unit 5
Atlanta, GA 30303-3085


>>> [log in to unmask] 02/20/03 02:59PM >>>
IgG mediated vs. IgE mediated--
What is the difference--is IgG a *true* allergy?

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