[Total serum IgE levels in eosinophilic lung diseases].
BACKGROUND
We previously reported elevated levels of total serum IgE in patients with asthma, regardless of their atopic status. We hypothesized that certain factors inherent to asthma may contribute to this non-specific elevation of total serum IgE. In the current study, to evaluate the role of eosinophils in the regulation of total serum IgE, we examined whether peripheral blood eosinophil count is associated with total serum IgE level in patients with eosinophilic lung diseases.


METHODS
Ninety-nine healthy controls, 277 patients with asthma, 15 patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia, 21 patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia were studied for total serum IgE levels and peripheral blood eosinophil counts.


RESULTS
Patients with acute or chronic eosinophilic pneumonia had significantly increased total serum IgE levels compared with healthy controls regardless as atopic status (p<0.001). In non-atopic subjects with eosinophilic lung diseases, total serum IgE level was significantly correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil count (r=0.42, p<0.001, n=57).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that, in addition to antigen-specific IgE production, non-specific IgE production may contribute to elevated levels of total serum IgE in patients with asthma or eosinophilic pneumonia. An increased number of activated eosinophils may underlie an increased total serum IgE level in these conditions.
Hattori
Takeshi
T
First Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University.
Hizawa
Nobuyuki
N
Takahashi
Daisuke
D
Isada
Akira
A
Takahashi
Ayumu
A
Maeda
Yukiko
Y
Fukui
Yoshinobu
Y
Konno
Satoshi
S
Nishimura
Masaharu
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood*
D007073:Immunoglobulin E