Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Severe Allergy to Human Seminal Plasma

Two women with allergy to human seminal plasma are described. Both patients had generalized and local allergic symptoms, i.e., hypotension, asthmatic dyspnea, urticaria, and vaginal swelling, beginning within a few minutes of intercourse. The antigen causing the reaction in these patients was common to all seminal plasmas examined. Most of the antigenic activity was shown to be present in one protein band detected by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The seminal plasma reaction was mediated through an immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody. Passive transfer of the hypersensitivity with the serum of both patients was successful, and the radioallergosorbent test showed that the serum of the first patient contained IgE specific to seminal plasma.