title: Total IgE levels in children under three years of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The course of type 1 allergic reaction is a result of complex immune processes in which immunoglobulin E plays a crucial role. The serum level of this immunoglobulin (IgE(total)) is closely related to the age of the patient. The presented paper analyses IgE(total) in children below 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in group of 291 patients aged 5-39 months. IgE(total) were determined using the Fluoro-FAST 3M. The analysis took into consideration the age, sex and living place of the examined children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The artmetic mean of IgE(total) was 38.8 +/- 4.0 IU/ml, the median--12 IU/ml, whereas the 5th and 95th percentile values amounted to 1IU/ml and 185 IU/ml, respectively. According to the standards recommended by the manufacturer of reagents used for determination of IgE(total) (Bio Whittaker), 103 children (35.4%) had elevated serum levels of IgE(total), whereas 196 (67.4%) were found to have elevated IgE(total) according to population standards. The obtained percentage distribution of elevated IgE(total) values in particular age groups is characterized by stepwise changes, observed in the age intervals for which the range of values considered as normal by the manufacturer is changed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of analyzed IgE(total) determinations it has been established that the manufacturer's standards for children aged from 2 to 3 years are overestimated, whereas the population standards seem to be underestimated. Therefore, the determination of IgE(total) normal value range requires further studies.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Paediatric Diseases, Medical University of Białystok, Waszyngtona 17, 150274 Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malinowska
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarski
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E