Cerebrospinal fluid IgE and the diagnosis of cerebral cysticercosis

Cerebral cysticercosis (CC) is a common cause of seizures and other central nervous system disorders in the Mexican-American population. The elevation of serum IgE in many parasitic diseases led us to study CSF and serum IgE in patients with CC diagnosed by pathologic, radiologic or clinical criteria. A paper disc radioimmunoassay, sensitive to 0.01 IU/ml, was used to measure CSF and serum IgE in 69 patients. The mean CSF IgE level in Mexicans with CC was 0.44 IU/ml compared to 0.28 IU/ml in Mexicans without CC and 0.07 IU/ml in non-Mexicans without CC.