Lack of correlation between titers of serum allergen-specific IgE and symptoms in untreated patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

In five ragweed seasons and three grass pollen seasons, preseason and postseason ragweed-specific serum IgE and nasal secretory-specific IgE and IgA have been measured in untreated patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. There was no consistent correlation between severity of rhinitis, as measured by symptom/medication scores during the season, and either absolute or changes in antibody titers. These findings suggest that antibody levels are only one of the factors that determine symptom severity.