Serum IgE-concentrations in patients with contact sensitization.

In 123 patients with contact sensitization (cs), of whom 23 had positive histories of atopy and/or positive prick tests (csa), the serum IgE-concentrations were determined and the following results were obtained: 1. A remarkable dispersal of IgE-concentrations was noted in cs--patients (1-3080 U/ml); 12% of them displayed IgE-concentrations of more than 1000 U/ml, even though they had no histories of clinical manifestations of atopy, liver of kidney diseases, or parasitic infestations. Their mean IgE-value of 396 U/ml +/- 60 differed considerably from the one of a comparable control group of healthy individuals. No statistically significant differences were noted between the IgE-levels, the age of our patients, the type and number of contact allergens, and the duration of skin lesions. 2. On an average, there were higher IgE-levels noted in cases of acute and extensive skin lesions than in cases of subacute to chronic, localised skin lesions. Controls of the serum IgE-concentrations and histologic examinations by means of immunofluorescence suggested that, depending on the individual patient, skin lesions might lead to an (unspecific?)activation of IgE-synthesising round cells. 3. In csa-patients with sensitization to metal, the skin lesions were of localised subacute to chronic character, while skin lesions of acute and extensive character were exceptional (5.9%).