[Total immunoglobulin E as marker of allergy at Northeast of Mexico]

Relationship of total serum IgE and allergy has been studied to determine if it could be a useful complement allergy diagnosis.

To determine whether serum total IgE is a useful tool in diagnosis of allergy in pediatric population attending outpatient pediatric allergy Regional General Hospital No. 1, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.

An epidemiological, observational, retrospective, transversal and analytical study of diagnostic test was done including files of children 3-15 years 11 months old, treated in pediatric allergy. For statistical analysis SPSS V-22 was used and through tetrachoric table, sensitivity, specificity of IgE for allergy diagnosis were determined, taking skin tests as a gold standard for diagnosing allergies; p value between the study variables was determined using Student t test.

248 records were studied; male gender was more frequent (59%). IgE sensitivity was 85% and specificity was 20%, cutoff point found was 148 IU/mL, elevated levels of IgE in skin tests to airborne allergens and presence of respiratory symptoms.

IgE determination is a useful initial screening test in patients with suspected allergy.