Serum IgE Levels in Asthmatic Children.

Abstract

Summary: Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined by the radial immunodiffusion technique in 47 asthmatic children, aged 3-14 years and in the same number of controls. The mean log serum IgE level of 2.507 in the asthmatics was significantly higher (p<0.01) than 1.836 in the controls. Twenty-four asthmatics with positive allergy skin tests had insignificantly higher mcan log IgE (2.7269) than 22 others (2.3349) with negative skin reactions. Similarly, asthmatics with stool helminthiasis had higher but insignificantly different mean log IgE (2.5996) than those with normal stools (2.0256). The niean log IgE level was not related to the DEL TOE frequency of asthmatic attacks. It is concluded that while serum IgE as determined in this study, is of diagnostic value in children with suspected bronchial asthma, it is not useful in predicting the frequency of acute attacks and thus, the severity of the disease.