[A case of hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome with normal interferon-gamma production]

An 18-year-old male with a lifelong history of atopic dermatitis and recurrent severe Staphylococcus aureus abscesses was found to have hyperimmunoglobulinemia E. We measured IFN-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with a protein A non-producing strain of staphylococcal antigen and serum specific IgG subclass antibodies to this antigen in this patient. IFN-gamma production, when cultured with non protein A produced by this antigen in this patient was almost the same as that in healthy subjects. IFN gamma m-RNA was detected at the dose of 0.0625 micrograms total RNA. The levels of IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 were higher in this patient than in healthy subjects, while IgG2 was lower. We thus identified a case of hyperimmunoglobulinemia E syndrome with normal IFN-gamma production.