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Serum immunoglobulin level and skin prick test response
1GSF - Forschungszentrum fuer Umwelt und Gesundheit, Institut fuer Epidemiologie, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg, D-85758, Germany. wjst@gsf.de
European Journal of Medical Research
|April 21, 1997
Summary
Viral infections may temporarily lower allergy test results. This study found lower immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels correlated with positive skin prick tests (SPT) for allergies in children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergy Research
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- The link between viral infections and allergic diseases remains unclear.
- Immunoglobulin levels are key indicators in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between immunoglobulin levels and allergic sensitization.
- To analyze sensitization to common allergens using skin prick tests (SPT).
Main Methods:
- Population-based study of 2,470 children.
- Analysis of 2,188 skin prick tests (SPT) and 2,042 blood samples.
- Examined immunoglobulin A (IgA), G (IgG), M (IgM), and E (IgE) levels.
Main Results:
- 19.2% of children had at least one positive SPT.
- IgA and IgG levels showed no association with SPT response.
- Elevated IgE levels correlated with increased SPT positivity (p<0.0001).
- Higher IgM levels showed a significant inverse association with positive SPT (p=0.002).
Conclusions:
- The inverse association between IgM and positive SPT suggests a transient effect.
- This effect is likely due to a recent viral infection, given IgM's short half-life (approx. 5 days).