Detection of IgE insulin antibody with radioallergosorbent test.

An in vitro method for detecting IgE insulin antibody using the principle of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) is described. In six patients with insulin allergy, the RAST values were higher than in normal persons or insulin-treated diabetics without insulin-allergy. No differences were observed between normal persons and insulin-treated diabetics without insulin-allergy. Moreover, it was observed that in one patient treated with highly-purified insulin, there was a gradual decrease of RAST value parallel to the radioinsulin binding activity and clinical allergic symptoms. The RAST value of insulin is slightly inhibited by non-IgE antibodies and is, therefore, a semiquantitative value. However, the RAST is simple to perform and reproducible; It therefore is very useful in the detection of IgE insulin antibodies.