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Effect of cigarette smoking on the humoral immune response in pigeon fanciers
Author(s) -
Carrillo T.,
Castro F. Rodriguez,
Cuevas M.,
Diaz F.,
Cabrera P.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1991.tb00580.x
Subject(s) - chronic bronchitis , immunology , medicine , immune system , sensitization , bronchitis , antigen , population , antibody , environmental health
Tobacco smoking is associated with increased prevalence of various diseases. In this study, we have used an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to investigate the specific IgG response to pigeon serum and its relationship to tobacco smoking. In a large group of pigeon fanciers the development of pigeon breeder's disease and some of the clinical features were also investigated. We found a sensitization rate of 31.9%, a lower degree than that found by other authors, in spite of using a less specific antigen. We also found that fanciers who are current cigarette smokers had significantly lower levels of IgG antibody to pigeon serum ( P < 0.001). Finally, 11.9% of the population had chronic bronchitis as their only manifestation of possible pigeon‐related disease. 19.6% of the sensitized fanciers had chronic bronchitis, were non‐smokers and had no other risk factor for developing chronic bronchitis.