title: Serum IgE levels in Korean patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection results in a selective CD4+ T cell depletion and an impairment of T cell regulation. Despite the immune depletion, the progression of HIV infection is accompanied by the stimulation of antibody synthesis. Thus, the prevalence and amplitude of the increase of total serum IgE level and the relationship between the IgE levels and the degree of immunodeficiency were evaluated in patients with HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six Korean adults infected with HIV, in different stages, were evaluated for serum IgE level and CD4+ T cell count. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were also determined. All subjects enrolled in this study denied an individual and familial history of atopic diseases. The possibility of parasitic infestation was also excluded by history and stool examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum IgE level was 473.5 IU/L with a standard deviation of 671.4 IU/L (range: 15.9-2000 IU/L) and increased serum IgE levels (> 200 IU/L) were found in 38.5% of the study population. The mean serum IgG, IgA and IgM levels were 1,939.5 +/- 588.6 mg/dL (normal: 751-1,560 mg/dL), 388.9 +/- 216.7 mg/dL (normal: 82-453 mg/dL) and 153.6 +/- 75.3 mg/dL (normal: 46-304 mg/dL), respectively. The CD4+ T cell count was inversely correlated to the serum IgE level (r = -0.429, p < 0.05), but not to the other isotypes of immunoglobulin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum IgE levels are increased in adults with HIV infection and could be useful as a marker of disease progression. Further study is needed to elucidate the causes and clinical significance of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, 52, Samduk 2-Ga, Jung-Gu, Daegu, Korea, 700-721.
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Byung Hun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Jong Taek
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jong Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shin Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nung Soo
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007723:Korea; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007073:Immunoglobulin E