Estimation of some agents of humoral and cell-mediated immunological response in the families of children with food allergy.

The humoral and cellular agents involved in allergic reactions were examined in 85 persons from 25 families of children with food allergy. The raised level of immunoglobulin M, the lowered levels of C3 and C4 fractions of complement and the increase in the contents of immunological complexes were the abnormalities most frequently met both in food allergic children and their parents. The incidence of the lowered level of IgA in serum was also significant. However, the abnormal results of cellular tests were more often found in the children with food allergy than in their parents. Especially the normal Helper/Suppressor ratio prevailed in the parents (81.6%) as compared to their children (47.6%).