The influence of the total immunoglobulin E level concentration in serum on the results of atopy patch tests in adult patients with atopic dermatitis

UNLABELLED: Atopy patch tests (APT) are defined as epidermal tests with allergens typically generating IgE related reactions with the assessment of consecutive eczematous conditions. They are showing allergen specific IgE on Langerhans cells surface. Increased total IgE concentration in serum is observed in 40-75% of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, and these class antibodies titer is one of the small criterions in AD condition diagnosis (according to Hanifin & Rajka). THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the correlation of APT results with the total class E antibodies serum levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 115 AD patients were examined. APT were done using a single allergen extract or their mix from commercially available reagents from Stallergenes (France). The determination of antigen specific IgE was done with fluoroimmunoenzymatic assay using Pharmacia CAP System FEIA set from Pharmacia-LKB (Sweden). RESULTS: In 50% AD patients with positive APT results increased total IgE levels were found. The correlation between positive APT results and increased total IgE levels was not statistically significant. It has been proved that the number of positive APT results was correlated positively with total IgE levels, this tendency was also observed for all tested allergens CONCLUSIONS: Conducted studies on APT usefulness in atopic eczema diagnosis and determination of pathogenesis are also helping to AD pathomechanism definition.