IgE levels in Hodgkin's disease.

Serum IgE levels were determined in a retrospectively selected group of 37 patients with Hodgkin's disease. IgE was determined by a double-antibody radioimmunoassay and expressed as International Units/ml. Patients were analyzed by stage and histologic classification of disease and compared to a group of 102 normal controls. IgE levels for the total group with Hodgkin's disease were significantly higher (p = .02) than controls but there was considerable overlap in ranges. Significant elevation of IgE was found in nodular sclerosing (p = .005) and Stage II Hodgkin's disease p = .0025). IgE elevations seen in other stages and histologic classes were not significant. While not conclusive, the IgE elevations that were found would be consistent with a suppressor T cell dysfunction in Hodgkin's disease.