The History of IgE: From Discovery to 2010

The discovery of IgE and the role of IgE-mediated inflammation gave clinical allergy a scientific backbone, and as a result, the reputation of the specialty allergy has increased considerably over the years. Allergy diagnosis was improved by assays for in vitro determination of the presence and concentration of IgE antibodies, and clinical knowledge also broadened, allowing better service for the increasing number of allergic individuals. Access to immune assays for allergens finally allowed characterization and standardization of allergen preparations used for diagnosis and allergen-specific immunotherapy. Improved basic molecular technologies have further increased our knowledge about the complex component composition of an allergen extract, introduced IgE-specific immunotherapy, and allowed the allergist to better handle even severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.