IgE Immunoglobulin

Immunoglobulin E (IgE): role, symptoms of deficiency and excess, blood standards

1. The role of IgE in the body

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a special class of antibodies that plays a key role in allergic reactions and protection against parasites.

Main functions:
✔ Allergic reactions:

• Binds to allergens and triggers the release of histamine from mast cells
• Mediates type I reactions (anaphylaxis, pollinosis, asthma)

✔ Antiparasitic protection:

• Active against helminths and some protozoa
• It stimulates eosinophils and mast cells

✔ Immune surveillance:

• Participates in antitumor immunity
• Regulates inflammatory processes

2. Symptoms of IgE deficiency

Reasons:

• Rare immunodeficiency disorders (Job’s syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome)
• Agammaglobulinemia
• Taking immunosuppressants

Clinical manifestations:

• Hypersensitivity to fungal infections
• Chronic skin diseases
• Recurrent sinus-pulmonary infections
• With hyper-IgE syndrome:
• Facial bone abnormalities
• Cold staphylococcal abscesses
• Eczema

3. Symptoms of excess IgE

Reasons:

• Allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma)
• Parasitic infestations (ascariasis, toxocariasis)
• IgE-type myeloma (extremely rare)
• Hyper-IgE syndrome

Clinical manifestations:

• Allergic reactions:
• Urticaria
• Angioedema
• Anaphylactic shock
• For parasitosis:
• Eosinophilia
• Pruritus of the skin
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• For myeloma:
• Bone damage
• Kidney failure

4. Norms of total IgE in the blood test

Age Group	Reference Values (IU/ml)
Newborns	0-1.5
1-3 months	0-2.0
4-6 months	0-3.0
7-12 months	0-10
1-3 years	0-20
4-6 years	0-50
7-9 years	0-70
10-12 years	0-90
13-15 years	0-120
Adults	0-100

Important notes:

• In smokers, the level can be increased by 10-20%
• Seasonal fluctuations in pollinosis
• Physiological increase at night

5. Diagnostic value

Raising the level indicates that:

• Atopic diseases
• Helminthiasis
• Some autoimmune processes
• Rare forms of immunodeficiency

A decrease in the level is observed when:

• Some primary immunodeficiency disorders
• Ataxia-telangiectasia
• Treatment with monoclonal antibodies

6. When is the test scheduled?

• Diagnosis of allergic diseases
• Suspected parasitic infestations
• Assessment of hyper-IgE syndrome
• Monitoring of allergen-specific immunotherapy
• Diagnosis of rare forms of myeloma

7. Additional research

• Allergopanel (specific IgE)
• Analysis for eosinophilic cationic protein
• Parasite testing
• Immunogram

8. Treatment approach

For allergic conditions:

• Antihistamines
• Allergen-specific immunotherapy
• Monoclonal antibodies (omalizumab)

For parasitosis:

• Anthelmintic drugs
• Elimination therapy

With immunodeficiency:

• Substitution therapy
• Treatment of concomitant infections