Serum IgE in dermatitis and dermatosis: an analysis of 497 cases

Serum IgE values from 497 patients with various forms of dermatitis, dermatosis, and tinea pedis were analyzed statistically and compared with values from 95 normal controls. The median and geometric mean values were significantly elevated (except in acne without atopy, lichen planus, and tinea pedis), even after exclusion of patients with a history of atopy or of cutaneous reaction to food or drugs. Serum IgE levels and atopic dermatitis have a close correlation. A modest positive correlation (p approximately equal to .05) appeared between the log serum IgE level and peripheral blood absolute eosinophil count in 80 cases of atopic dermatitis. A unique group of adult nonatopic patients had acquired generalized dermatitis and markedly elevated serum IgE levels (greater than 12,000 ng/ml). Our results suggest that, in most common dermatologic disorders, elevated serum IgE is a secondary phenomenon rather than a primary causative factor.