Allergies, Immunoglobulin E, & Lupus Symptoms

Diving deeper into allergies Lupus isn’t the only condition with a genetic component. Allergies have a heritability component, too. The predisposition towards developing certain allergic diseases, like atopic dermatitis and asthma, is known at atopy. Interestingly, the word ‘atopy’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘extraordinary’ or ‘uncommon.’ Traditionally, ‘atopy’ applies only to IgE-mediated allergic reactions. IgE stands for Immunoglobulin E. IgE are a type of antibody created by the immune system. When an allergen is detected, the immune system overreacts and produces IgE. The antibodies bind with the perceived invaders and release chemicals, like histamine, which lead to the allergy symptoms. Different types of IgE are responsive to different allergens. That’s why it’s possible to be allergic to one thing or many — it depends on the number of types of IgE in the body. There are also non-IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Common examples of these are food allergies that occur in the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms like: bloating diarrhea vomiting Non-IgE reactions show up later, usually hours or days after exposure to an allergen. In contrast, IgE allergic reactions frequently show up within minutes of exposure. Hypersensitivity reactions are further broken down into different types based on the biological mechanism that is triggered. You can learn more here.

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