Total and specific IgE in sera from patients with invasive amoebiasis.

Total and specific IgE antibodies were determined in 20 patients with invasive amoebiasis. Using a histamine release assay by passive sensitized human leukocytes, a significant increase of Entamoeba histolytica induced IgE-mediated histamine liberation was found in basophils sensitized with sera from patients with amoebiasis as compared to those of control groups. Concerning the total serum IgE, no statistically significant changes were found in different serum groups. Our results suggest that E. histolytica can induce a detectable level of circulating specific IgE without change in total serum IgE.