Cord blood IgE levels in the United Arab Emirates

Cord blood IgE was assayed in 164 newborn babies from the United Arab Emirates. The serum IgE levels ranged between < or = 0.1-13.5 kU/l with a geometric mean of 0.28 kU/l. The cord blood IgE in the 89 babies without immediate family history of allergy was < or = 0.1-3.2 kU/l with a geometric mean of 0.25 kU/l and 1.13 kU/l as the 90th percentile. An influence of prenatal sensitization to helminth antigens on cord blood IgE level was not likely. The data are similar to cord blood IgE values reported in other populations. This indicates that ethnic differences do not influence cord blood IgE levels and that previously published studies on the predictive value of cord blood IgE determination in Caucasians are relevant also for other populations.