Serum total IgE in normal subjects and the influence of a family history of allergy

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Abstract
Summary: The purpose of this study was to establish the range of serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) in a healthy population free of personal and family history of allergy, and to determine whether a family history of allergy influenced serum IgE levels. Using commercially available Phadebas reagents, the mean serum IgE in eighty‐four adults aged 17–30 years with no personal or family history of allergy was found to be 38.8 iu/ml. Seventy‐five percent of subjects had a serum IgE below 50 iu/ml and in only one subject was serum IgE in excess of 150 iu/ml, which we suggest be taken as the upper limit of normal. When healthy subjects with no personal history but with a family history of allergy were included with this normal population, the mean serum IgE in 207 subjects was 95.4 iu/ml and the upper limit of the distribution curve over 200 iu/ml, suggesting an influence of genetic factors on IgE production.

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