[Animal experimental studies on immunogenicity, humoral response and danger of anaphylaxis in parenteral administration of hyaluronidase]

Abstract

The widespread intravenous application of hyaluronidase rises questions for its potential immunogenicity, formation of humoral antibodies, and danger of anaphylaxis. In experiments on 21 rabbits and 40 rats, the authors searched for precipitating antibodies after subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous application of hyaluronidase in doses equivalent to the human. Intravenous and intramuscular shots of 150 to 75 000 IU of Hylase were applied in order to test anaphylaxis. By all proving procedures antibodies against Hylase were found. The formation of antibodies occurred earlier and in higher concentrations after subcutaneous and intramuscular application. The antibodies belonged to the IgG group. One third of the animals showed anaphylactic responses at doses which were 13 to 630 times as high. 26 per cent of human patients developed antibodies after application of Hylase. No anaphylactic reactions were observed in 17 patients with antibodies when intravenous application of hyaluronidase was continued. In the dosage used in the man anaphylactic response is obviously rare though it is possible.