Helminth-specific IgE and extrinsic allergen-specific IgE in patients with atopic diseases

ABSTRACT

To investigate the role of helminth-induced I[g]E in the worm-atopy relationship, the levels of I[g]E directed against helminthic antigens [Ascaris, Echinococcus, and Schistosoma] and total I[g]E were determined by radioimmunoassay in the sera of 106 atopic subjects, using extrinsic allergen-specific I[g]E. Ten patients were found to have detectable levels of helminth-specific I[g]E antibodies. The total I[g]E levels in these patients were approximately five-fold greater than those in patients with no detectable helminth-specific I[g]E. The differences were highly significant [P<0.005]. The results indicate that atopy could develop in individuals with parasite-specific I[g]E antibodies and that helminthic antigens strongly potentiate I[g]E-secreting plasma cells