Continuous reference intervals for total serum immunoglobulin E in neonates and children.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Immunology
• Paediatric Medicine

Background:

• Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is crucial in allergic sensitization, with levels varying by age and allergic status.
• Existing IgE reference intervals often lack the granularity needed for accurate paediatric assessment.
• Accurate reference intervals are essential for diagnosing and managing allergic diseases in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish continuous paediatric reference intervals (RIs) for total serum IgE in healthy neonates and children.
• To develop age-specific RIs that differentiate between individuals with and without allergic conditions.
• To enhance the clinical utility of total IgE measurements in paediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 441 serum samples from healthy term neonates and children aged 30 days to 18 years.
• Measurement of total serum IgE concentrations using fluoroenzyme immunoassay.
• Application of fractional polynomial regression and quantile regression to generate continuous RIs.

Main Results:

• Continuous RIs for total serum IgE were established for healthy children aged 0-18 years.
• Distinct RI formulae were derived for children with and without allergic conditions.
• Results demonstrated age-dependent changes and allergy-specific differences in total serum IgE levels.

Conclusions:

• Continuous paediatric reference intervals for total serum IgE have been successfully established.
• These RIs provide age-specific and allergy-aware benchmarks for paediatric IgE assessment.
• The findings support improved diagnostic accuracy and clinical management of allergic conditions in children.