Allergic diseases and high levels of immunoglobulin E in children and adolescents

Abstract

 Introduction: immunoglobulin E (IgE) serum high levels have been described in helmin­thiasis, allergic diseases and some primary immunodeficiencies. Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of allergic diseases in children and adolescents with serum levels of total IgE ≥ 1,000 UI/mL. Methods: Retrospective study of patients up to 18 years of age and serum levels of total IgE ≥ 1,000 IU/mL, followed at the outpatient clinics of pediatric pul­monology and allergy at Antônio Pedro University Hospital, Federal Fluminense University, from January 2007 to December 2012. Results: a total of 65 medical records were stu­died. The mean age was 8.9 (± 4.1) years; 40 (61.5%) were boys. IgE levels ranged from 1,066 to 33,089 IU/mL (mean of 3,814.4 IU / mL and median of 2,000 IU/mL). IgE values were higher for males (p = 0.020). Three patients with IgE bigger than 20,000 IU/mL were observed: one with Job’s syndrome and two with rhinitis, asthma, food allergy and severe atopic dermatitis. In 62 patients with high levels IgE (of up to 10,000 IU/mL) a diagnosis of rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergy was found in 90.3%, 87.1%, 14.5% and 6.4% respectively. The most frequent association was between rhinitis and asthma (50/62, 80.6%). In patients with atopic dermatitis the median values of IgE were significantly higher (p = 0.026). Conclusions: The highest levels of IgE predominated in males and in chil­dren with atopic dermatitis. There was a higher prevalence of rhinitis and asthma in chil­dren with atopic diseases, data according with the literature.