Prausnitz-Kiistner test

Passive transfer tests with the sera of six sensitive refinery workers were made with unheated serum for IgE, long-term sensitising antibody and with heated serum for short-term sensitising, presumably IgG antibody to prick tests (Pepys et al. 1979). Table 5 shows positive reactions with all of the unheated sera in one or more of the three human Prausnitz-Kiistner recipients and with two and probably three of the sera in Prausnitz-Kiistner tests in the monkey. These findings support the possibility of specific IgE antibodies to the platinum salts. 

To establish IgE-mediated allergies to tetracyclines, Prausnitz-Kiistner tests were performed and positive results were obtained in some cases (Fellner and Baer 1966 Lochmannova et al. 1970). 

Skin tests of the immediate type, with 1% chloramphenicol solution as well as Prausnitz-Kiistner tests have been performed, but no positive results were obtained with either method (Korossy et al. 1962). 

Immunologic-type agents are confirmed by specific positive radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) and by negative tests on control subjects, rarely by passive transfer tests (Prausnitz-Kiistner tests) in animals. In vitro tests can also be used to assess the relationship with a possible IgE-mediated mechanism, namely, determination of histamine release from peripheral basophils or platelet cytotoxicity test, which explores the presence on platelets of specific IgE antibodies bound to the low-affinity receptor for IgE. 

In the Prausnitz-Kiistner test a dilution of serum to be tested for the presence of reagin is introduced into the skin of a nonallergic individual. After 1 or 2 days this is followed by the allergen. A wheal and erythema reaction indicates the presence of reagin in the donor s serum. 

Various procedures were used to answer these questions, including direct skin tests, Prausnitz-Kiistner reaction, intravenous test doses and in particular the measurement of histamine release from leucocytes in vitro. We found the latter test extremely useful (Assem 1977 a). Lorenz and Doenicke (1978) measured plasma histamine levels in vivo, and other authors found complement studies of great value (Watkins et al. 1978) Watkins 1979 Dye and Watkins 1980). 

The mechanism of induction of histamine release by alphaxalone and alphadolone shown by the leucocyte test in susceptible individuals is not clear at present, but it appears to be like Cremophor EL. This means that it could be due either to an anaphylactic or anaphylactoid (direct histamine release) reaction. We did not find histamine release with these agents from the leucocytes of normal volunteers. We were unable to elicit a positive Prausnitz-Kiistner reaction in two patients in whom a reaction occurred after a second exposure to Althesin, and in whom the vehicle did not produce any response, either in the direct skin test or in the leucocyte test. 

Trentini GP, Botticelli A, Barbolini G (1974) Testicular lesions in rats created for one year with ethambutol in low doses. Virchows Arch [Pathol Anat] 362 311 Tykal P, Wilms H (1972) Anaphylaktischer Schock nach oraler Gabe von Nitrofurantoin und Nachweis von Reaginen durch heterologen Intrakutan-Test (Prausnitz-Kiistner). DMW 97 256... 

Cases of allergic reactions to ascorbic acid are very rare. Early observations reported rubelliform, morbilliform, and scarlatiniform exanthemas, urticaria, and edema after vitamin C use (Widenbauer 1936a,b). Positive skin reactions were reported by Rust (1954) in seven cases and by Panzani (1961) in one case. In this latter case, the skin test was a passive transfer test (Prausnitz-Kiistner) but the data presented are too scarce to demonstrate a definite immunological etiology of the observed reactions. The same holds for three cases of respiratory and cutaneous allergy reported recently by Vassal (1975). 

Urticarial sensitivity can be transfered by the serum, whereas it is admitted that eczematous sensitivity could only be transfered by cells. With CA we succeeded in transfering by the serum, according to a technique similar to that of Prausnitz-KiiSTNER, of not only an urticarial reaction but also a reaction of the delayed type lasting for 12 to 24 hours. The infiltrate, which is composed mainly of eosinophils, increases considerably during the hours that follow the test and the epidermis shows rough outlines of spongiosis. 

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