Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 151, No. 3, Mar 1995, 663-668.
Longitudinal observations of serum IgE and skin prick test response
MP Oryszczyn, I Annesi, F Neukirch, MF Dore and F Kauffmann
INSERM Epidemiological Research Unit 169, Villejuif, Paris, France.
The objective of the study was to assess skin prick test and IgE changes in
a working population surveyed 5 yr apart and to determine whether age and
smoking habits modify these changes. SPTs were performed on 223 subjects by
the same method and common allergens (a mixture of grass pollens and a
mixture of 95% house dust and 5% house dust mite). IgE measurements were
done in duplicate by the same technique at each survey. A SPT-positive
response at the first survey was highly predictive of a positive value at
the second survey. The prevalence of positive SPT significantly increased
in 5 yr (from 17.5 to 24.7%). A strong correlation was observed between IgE
levels 5 yr apart (r = 0.92), and the IgE level appeared very stable. The
initial IgE level was significantly greater among the converters than in
consistently negative subjects (92.3 versus 30.1 IU/ml). Conversely, the
initial IgE level was lower for the reverters than in consistently positive
subjects (36.8 versus 97.0 IU/ml). In SPT negatives, non- and exsmokers had
a greater decrease in IgE than current smokers (p = 0.06). IgE level
appears to be a good predictor of SPT changes for both conversion and
reversion. The IgE level appears very stable in midadulthood, which
suggests that the adult environment may play a small effect in IgE level.
