Sera from patients undergoing
hemodialysis with
formaldehyde (F)-sterilized dialyzers were studied to determine if
antibodies against F conjugated to
human serum albumin (HSA) could be detected.
F-human serum albumin (
F-HSA) conjugates were prepared using ratios of F to HSA that did not precipitate the HSA. The
F-HSA conjugates migrate differently electrophoretically than HSA with an increased negative charge of
F-HSA as compared with HSA. The
F-HSA was used in an ELISA. The results demonstrated that in certain sera,
IgG,
IgM,
IgA and
IgE antibodies against
F-HSA could be measured. In the highest titered sera, it was shown that the
IgG antibody was not directed against F alone or F-
lysine but against an antigenic grouping of
F-HSA. No correlation of either
IgG or
IgE antibodies with
immune complex or
allergic reactions was found in this series of dialysis patients. Some sera from dialysis patients had antibody activity against HSA. Sera from 2 physicians with
rhinitis after F exposure had no antibody activity against
F-HSA or HSA. Two nurses with a history of F-induced
asthma had no
IgG antibodies but did have
IgE antibodies against
F-HSA and HSA. This spectrum of immunologic responses is analogous to responses in dogs immunized with F or F dog
albumin. We have not been able to identify anti HSA
antibodies in patients reactive to other
hapten-HSA compounds and it is suggested that anti HSA
antibodies in F-exposed humans may relate to the F exposure.