title: Serum immunoglobulin E levels in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia - experience from a tertiary hospital in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary hypogammaglobulinemia has been proposed to be associated with an increased incidence of allergic diseases, but the correlation between the clinical presentation and the serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level has not been studied in this patient group. This study investigated the correlation of IgE levels and allergic condition in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty five patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia were enrolled from September 2004 to March 2005. Serum IgE levels were measured at clinic follow-up. Information regarding the patient's history of allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma, were collected from chart review and clinic interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly lower mean +/- standard deviation serum IgE levels were found in allergic patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia (123.9 +/- 148.8 IU/mL) than in the healthy control group (376.2 +/- 471.7 IU/mL) [p < 0.005] or in allergic patients without primary hypogammaglobulinemia (544.1 +/- 309.1 IU/mL) [p < 0.001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum IgE level is not a suitable diagnostic criterion or treatment guide for allergy in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Jeng-Yee
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yao-Hsu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jyh-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bor-Luen
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E