[Correlation between serum IgE level and human basophil degranulation by anti-IgE antibodies]

The human basophil degranulation test (HBDT) by anti-IgE antibodies was applied in 3 groups of subjects: 20 controls, 26 patients with helminthiasis and 28 allergic patients. Mean degranulation was higher in patients with helminthiasis than in the two other groups. A correlation was found between IgE serum level and HBDT results by anti-IgE (r = 0.373; p less than 0.02) with Spearman's rank correlation test. Therefore, degranulation with anti-IgE antibodies would appear to depend on the quantity of cell-bound IgE rather than on intrinsic basophil sensitivity.