Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2009 Jun;29(2):96-104.

Clinical Characteristics of Allergic Asthmatics with Normal Total Serum IgE Levels

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although allergic diseases occur through IgE-mediated reaction, about 20% of allergic asthmatics have normal total serum IgE levels.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the allergic asthmatics with normal total serum IgE levels. METHOD: Medical records of 430 consecutive allergic asthmatics, who received the tests for both total IgE and allergen-specific IgE in the serum or on the skin, were reviewed. According to the total and specific IgE levels, the subjects were classified to 4 groups (I, increased/strong; II, normal/strong; III, increased/weak; IV, normal/weak). RESULT: The Dermatophagoides farinae-specific IgE level in the serum was significantly related to the total serum IgE level (r=0.322, P<0.001). The D. farinae-specific IgE levels were significantly lower in the group II than in the group I (3.27+/-0.14 vs. 1.83+/-0.30, P<0.01) and the group IV than in the group III (0.79+/-0.05 vs. 0.44+/-0.13, P<0.01). The results for D. pteronyssinus and sum of checked allergens were similar. The proportion of the patients sensitized to single allergen to total subjects was 7.5%/13.5%/ 33.0%/40.0% for I/II/III/IV groups (Chi- square=44.5, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
The allergic asthmatics with normal total serum IgE levels had lower allergen-specific IgE levels and a higher proportion of the patients sensitized to single allergen. The levels of total serum IgE may be determined by the degree of sensitization in allergic asthma.

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Medical Records
Pyroglyphidae
Skin
Skin Tests
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E