Reactivity of IgE and IgG serum levels to chymopapain after chemonucleolysis.

Patients suffering from herniated lumbar intervertebral disks can currently be treated by chemonucleolysis. This procedure involves reducing the nucleus pulposus by injecting chymopapain into the affected intervertebral disk. A small percentage of the patients who undergo this treatment experience an immediate hypersensitivity reaction. In this study the IgE and IgG specific for sensitivity to chymopapain of 21 patients receiving chymopapain (Discase for injection) was monitored over a 6-month period after injection. This study demonstrates that serum levels of IgE and IgG to chymopapain increase after chemonucleolysis.