Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2013 May;5(3):170-174. 10.4168/aair.2013.5.3.170.

The Age Impact on Serum Total and Allergen-Specific IgE

• De Amici M
• Ciprandi G

• KMID: 2260337
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2013.5.3.170

Abstract

Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in almost all functions of the immune system. To investigate a possible impact of age on IgE production, this study evaluated total and allergen-specific serum IgE levels in a large cohort of allergic patients. This study included 6,370 allergic patients (2,961 females, 3,409 males; mean age, 21.7 years; age range, 0-96 years). Total and allergen-specific serum IgE levels were measured by immunoenzymatic assay. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference (P<0.0001) in the mean value of total IgE among the different age groups of patients. Moreover, specific IgE levels for all allergens examined differed significantly among the age groups of patients (P<0.0001), with a specific trend pattern for each allergen. Total IgE increased with age, but allergen-specific IgE levels significantly decreased with age, with a trend specific for each allergen tested.

Keyword

Age; allergy; serum; specific IgE and total IgE

MeSH Terms

Aging
Allergens
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immune System
Immunoglobulin E
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Total IgE distribution among the groups of patients. Serum concentrations are expressed as means (bars) and standard error of the mean (line). (B) Distribution of the number of patients per each total IgE concentration. (C, D) Total IgE distribution among the male (C) and female patients (D). Serum concentrations are expressed as means (bars) and standard error of the mean (line).

• 

  Fig. 2 Serum-specific IgE levels among the groups of patients were evaluated separately for each allergen: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (A), dog dander (B), cat dander (C) and Alternaria (D). Serum concentrations are expressed as means and standard error of the mean.

• 

  Fig. 3 Serum-specific IgE levels among the groups of patients were evaluated separately for each allergen: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (A), dog dander (B), cat dander (C) and Alternaria (D). Serum concentrations are expressed as means and standard error of the mean.

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