Relationship among asthma, serum IgE levels and skin test sensitivity to inhaled allergens.

In two groups of subjects, we have shown that increased high total serum IgE levels (with and without age and sex correction) are significantly associated with the asthmatic phenotype, as diagnosed by a physician. This association was confirmed by discriminant analyses; as compared to variables such as specific sensitivity to allergens and smoking history, age- and sex-corrected log[total serum IgE] was the best predictor of the status of physician-diagnosed asthma in these subjects. Additionally, we observed significantly increased skin test sensitivity to house dust allergens in asthmatics. These findings support previous studies showing that high total serum IgE levels and IgE-mediated sensitivity to house dust allergens are associated with the presence of asthma.