Relationship between total serum IgE level and skin prick test in patients with symptoms of respiratory allergy

Abstract EN

Background: skin prick test (SPT) and total serum IgE measurement are common tests used for allergy diagnosis.

Objective: the current study aimed to determine the association between elevated Total IgE levels and skin test reactivity in patients with symptoms of respiratory allergy.

Methodology : the study include 128 patients with symptoms of allergic asthma and or allergic rhinitis who attended to AAC In Al-Sader Medical City, skin prick test was done by using standard allergens extracts like house dust mites extracts, pollens of trees, grasses and weeds also extract for mold allergens.

Also sera of patients analyzed for measurement total serum IgE.

Results: skin prick test was positive in 112 (87.5%) of patients to one allergen or more and (57.8%) of patients had high IgE levels (>190 IU/ml), 72(64%) out of 112 skin test positive patients had high IgE levels.

Conclusion: there is close association between reported allergic symptoms, skin test reactivity and elevated IgE levels, also skin test results correlate significantly with total IgE levels.

Recommendation: Total serum IgE measurement could be used as diagnostic marker to identify respiratory allergy and could be used as single cost effective test in cases when skin test not available or contraindicated, and so Respiratory allergy still could be diagnosed on the bases of clinical examination as there is significant association between symptoms and allergy tests positivity.