An epidemiological study on total and specific IgE levels in Japanese schoolchildren

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Abstract
Total serum IgE, and specific serum IgE against mites, Ascaris and Japanese cedar pollen were surveyed in 251 schoolchildren by a radioimmunoassay method. These children, aged 10-13 yr and living in a rural Japanese town, were selected according to 1/3 random population sample. A high concentration of total serum IgE (700 u/ml or more) was found in 31 children (12.3%). The sex ratio of these children, boys to girls, was 2.1:1. The cross-sectional and 6-yr follow-up study of total IgE levels showed that they decreased with advancing age. Total IgE levels were significantly related to each of 3 specific IgE species investigated. The levels of these 3 specific IgE were also significantly related to each other. Schoolchildren with high specific IgE levels against mites have had significantly more asthmatic histories compared to children with low specific IgE levels. Such a relationship was not observed for total IgE levels and another 2 specific IgE species.