title: Normal serum IgE levels and eosinophil counts exhibited during Strongyloides stercoralis infection.
abstract: Infections with parasites, such as Strongyloides stercoralis, typically cause elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophils; however, co-infection with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) can cause lower levels of serum IgE during S. stercoralis infection. We conducted this study to determine whether serum IgE levels and eosinophil counts could also be related to other patient characteristics or symptoms. Between 1991 and 2014, we measured and compared the symptoms of 237 patients and evaluated serum IgE levels and eosinophil counts of 199 patients who were infected with S. stercoralis at the Ryukyu University Hospital and the Nishizaki Hospital. Medical records were reviewed and blood samples were taken before treatment with the anthelminthic, ivermectin, 2weeks following the first dosage, and 2weeks following the second dosage. Commonly reported symptoms included abdominal pain, diarrhea, and general fatigue. Serum IgE levels were found to be normal in patients co-infected with HTLV-1. Additionally, females and patients younger than 70years old exhibited normal serum IgE levels when infected with S. stercoralis. No factor included in our analysis was found to affect eosinophil counts. Serum IgE levels can remain within the normal range for some patients infected with S. stercoralis. Therefore, physicians should not eliminate S. stercoralis infection from the differential diagnosis solely according to findings of normal or low IgE levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan; Department of Endoscopy, University of the Ryukyus Hospital, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan. Electronic address: higasiarakawa@mail.goo.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashiarakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruhisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parrott
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinjo
authors.affiliation: Nishizaki Hospital, 371-1 Zaha, Itoman, Okinawa 901-0314, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidekatsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, University of the Ryukyus Hospital, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hokama
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000276:immunology*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007559:Ivermectin
keywords: Elderly; Female; HTLV-1; Serum IgE levels; Strongyloides stercoralis; Symptom