[Immunoglobulin E and cell-mediated hypersensitivity in an unselected adult population. The Glostrup Allergy Study]

In this study, we have assessed the relationship between immunoglobulin E-mediated and cell-mediated hypersensitivities in an unselected population living in Western Copenhagen, Denmark. A total of 793 subjects, aged 15-69 years, were studied. Measurements of serum immunoglobulin E level, prick tests with aeroallergens and patch tests with environmental haptens were performed in 561 (70.7% of 793) subjects. One or more positive prick tests were present in 28.4%, and contact sensitization occurred in 15.2%. When adjusted for the effects of age and sex, the probability of contact sensitization to one or more haptens was independent of serum immunoglobulin E level (the odds ratio value (OR)=1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.7-1.4), and the probability of contact sensitization was independent of the number of positive prick tests (OR=1.0; CI=0.8-1.2). Contact sensitization appeared to be independent of enhanced immunoglobulin E responsiveness in an unselected adult population.