title: Elevated serum IgE in recurrent aphthous stomatitis and associations with disease characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize demographic, clinical and serological parameters in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients and analyse their association with serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with RAS responded to a questionnaire that included demographic background, stress status, smoking habits, history and course of RAS episodes. They were also subjected to relevant laboratory tests, including determination of serum IgE levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A familial history of RAS was reported by 47.9% of the patients, stress in the previous year by 51.1% and smoking by 18.4%. Non-Caucasian origin, familial history of RAS, stress and smoking were associated with increased severity of RAS episodes. Haematological deficiencies were observed in 18.7% of RAS patients. Average IgE levels were increased and were significantly associated ‎with younger ‎age, ‎≤12 years of schooling, ‎female gender, ‎RAS ‎episode frequency of every ‎2 weeks‎,‎ early onset of RAS episodes and elevated C reactive protein levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunoglobulin E levels may be considered as part of the RAS patient's work-up. Further research is needed to identify biological mechanisms that account for the observed associations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Center, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almoznino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizrahi
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Aframian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: immunoglobulin E; recurrent aphthous stomatitis