title: The Po River Delta Respiratory Epidemiological Survey: an analysis of factors related to level of total serum IgE.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to analyse whether sex, age, skin test reactivity, cigarette smoking and occupational exposure were related to the total serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E concentrations (kU x L[-1]), in a general population sample. We studied 1,905 subjects (915 males, 990 females) of a general population sample (n=2,841, 8-73 yrs) participating in the second cross-sectional respiratory epidemiological survey in the rural Po Delta area (near Venice, North Italy). Distribution of total serum IgE concentrations was skewed, thus a log-transformation was performed to obtain a Gaussian shape. Significantly higher values of IgE were found in males compared to females. In general, a peak of IgE concentration was found at 8-14 yrs. IgE values tended to be lower in older than younger adults. Significantly higher serum IgE levels were shown in subjects with a positive skin-prick test index (ST+) than in those with a negative skin-prick test index (ST-). There was a significant relationship of total IgE levels with skin reactivity to pollens and house-dust mites. In both sexes higher values of IgE were found in current smokers than in ex-nonsmokers, regardless of skin-test reactivity. There was no significant difference in IgE values between ex- and nonsmokers. Passive smoking and occupational exposure were significantly related to increased IgE values. Our results confirm that in a general population sample immunoglobulin E concentrations are related not only to skin-prick test reactivity to common aeroallergens, but also to other risk factors for chronic obstructive lung diseases, such as sex, active/ passive smoking and occupational exposure.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sapigni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biavati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viegi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldacci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carrozzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Modena
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedreschi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vellutini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paoletti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D007073:Immunoglobulin E