Serum total IgE and allergen specific IgE in an adult asthmatic population.

Serum levels of total and allergen specific IgE were estimated in 75 adult asthmatics. The total IgE results were found to be distributed in a log-normal fashion with a mean of 124.0 U/ml and 28% were above the upper limit of the normal range. The total IgE was related to the RAST number in a log-normal manner. Up to eight RAST discs could be positive in a patient with a normal total IgE and an elevated IgE could occur with no discs positive. There was also a log-normal relationship between total IgE and the RAST score with little change in score per disc with rise in total IgE. The data suggest that the more allergic individual reacts to more allergens rather than more strongly to a few allergens.