Specific IgE serum concentration is associated with symptom severity in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis

C. Rolinck-Werninghaus, T. Keil, M. Kopp, S. Zielen, U. Schauer, A. Von Berg, U. Wahn, E. Hamelmann*

*Corresponding author for this work
22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The impact of allergen-specific and total IgE serum levels before and during the pollen season on symptom severity as well as efficacy of treatment with anti-IgE requires further delineation. Methods: Birch and grass pollen allergic patients aged 6-17 years with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) were analyzed for the association of IgE serum concentration with symptom severity and rescue medication use (combination: symptom load, SL) during the grass pollen season. Reference group A (n = 53) received placebo, while group B (n = 54) received Omalizumab (anti-IgE) monotherapy before and during the grass pollen season. Results: Patients on placebo with high baseline specific grass pollen IgE (>50 kU/l) had a significantly higher SL compared with those with low IgE levels (≤50 kU/l): SL 1.28 vs 0.61, P = 0.015. This association was nonexistent in patients treated with anti-IgE. In contrast, baseline total IgE levels did not correlate with SL in any group. Patients with anti-IgE treatment and high free total IgE levels (>16.7 ng/ml) had a significantly higher SL compared with those with low free total IgE levels (≤16.7 ng/ml): SL 0.63 vs 0.23, P = 0.031. Conclusions: Baseline specific IgE, but not total IgE, is associated with symptom severity during the pollen season in children with SAR. Likewise, the symptom load in SAR patients with anti-IgE correlates with free total IgE levels. Although further research in larger populations is needed to confirm our findings, our data suggest that specific IgE can be used as a parameter for patient selection for this kind of treatment.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAllergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume63
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)1339-1344
Number of pages6
ISSN0105-4538
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10.2008

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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