title: Immunoglobulin E in Nigerian onchocerciasis.
abstract: Total serum IgE was measured by radioimmunoassay in 58 adult Nigerian patients with untreated onchocerciasis. Levels in excess of 244.9 IU/ml, the mean level of the healthy Nigerian control subjects tested, were found in 86% of the patients. The levels were comparable to IgE levels found in 15 atopic Nigerian patients from the same residential area (mean = 1,028.7 IU/ml). The findings suggest that onchocerciasis, like allergy, is one of the causes of elevated total serum IgE, though normal levels may occur in this disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000208:ethnology; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E