title: [Increased plasma levels of immunoglobulin E can be due to pulmonary embolism].
abstract: Increased plasma levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) are encountered in various clinical settings, most often infection or atopic/allergic disease. IgE, however, is neither a sensitive, nor a specific marker for any particular disease. We describe a case of a 52-year-old woman presenting with non-specific symptoms and increased plasma IgE levels on admission. Atopy/allergy, infection and malignancy were ruled out, and the only plausible cause remained a pulmonary embolism found incidentally on a computed tomography. The patient's IgE levels rapidly declined after the initiation of anticoagulant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Hjertemedicinsk Afdeling B, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Brendstrupgårdsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N. mananpareek@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Manan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pareek
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lundgren Nielsen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E