Anaphylaxis after intra-articular injection of orgotein. Detection of an IgE-mediated mechanism.

Orgotein, a recently introduced anti-inflammatory agent, is the generic name accepted in the U.S.A. for the drug version of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase. This metallo-enzyme is obtained from bovine liver and has a molecular weight of about 32,000. We report on a patient to whom an intra-articular injection of orgotein caused an anaphylactic reaction. An IgE-mediated mechanism was suggested by an immediate positive skin test to orgotein and by the finding of specific IgE against orgotein in the patient's serum.