Serum Ig E Level in Koreal Sound Controls and Bronchial Asthmatics

Abstract

Total serum IgE level were determined in 83 Korean sound controls (male 38, female 45) and 250 bronchial asthmatics (male 136, female 114) who had not been treated with hyposensitization. The patients were divided into two small groups, i. e. group (a) with asthma only and group (b) with other coexistent atopic diseases. IgE in serum was measured by the radioimmunosorbent technique using the kits of Phadebas~ and following results were obtained. 1. In both control and asthma group, the frequency distributions of the serum IgE levels were continuous ut not normal. 2. In control group, the serum IgE levels ranged from 8 to 475 I.U./ml and the mean and the standard deviation was 151±1l4 I.U./ml (male 151±124, female 152±105). There were no differences between sexes or age groups 3. In patients group, the serum levels ranged from 33 to 7,200 I.U./ml and the mean and S.D. were 1401 ±1412I.U./ml (male 1682±1420, female 1073±1217). The levels of male patients were higher than those of females. but the reasons were uncertain. 4. No significant differences were found between the serum IgE levels in group(a) and those in group (b). 5. The serum IgE level higher than 400I. U./ml was thought to be significantly raised and such levels were found in 4.8% of sound controls and in 74% of total asthma patients. In the laller, the allergic bases may play major roles in the pathogenesis of the disease G. Significantly raised serum IgE levels were found in 93% of the asthma patients under 10 years of age, indicating the high prevalence of allergic asthma in childhood