Antibody responses in tinea imbricata: the role of immunoglobulin E

Patients with tinea imbricata were found to have raised specific immunoglobulin levels of all classes to Trichophyton concentricum antigen using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both total and specific IgE class antibodies were raised and this correlated with immediate type hypersensitivity seen on skin testing as well as the duration of infection. The significance of these findings is discussed in the light of the association between chronic fungal infections and IgE.