[Development of serum IgE and house dust-specific IgE antibodies in normal Chinese from birth to adult and its clinical usefulness in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood asthma (author's transl)]
Total serum IgE and house dust-specific IgE antibodies were checked in 217 healthy subjects aged from birth to 39 years and 67 newly diagnosed asthmatic children in order to study their developmental patterns in normal Chinese and evaluate their clinical usefulness in the diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma. The serum IgG concentrations were determined by using Phadebas IgE PRIST kits and specific IgE antibodies by Phadebas RAST kits purchased from Pharmacia, Sweden. The results showed: 1) The serum IgE increased gradually after birth, approached adult level at 3-4 years of age, continued to rise to peak at 14-16 years of age and then declined to the adult level; 2) The house dust-specific IgE antibodies increased after birth, peaked at 5-6 years of age and then declined; 3) The serum IgE was increased (greater than mean + 2SD) in 64.2% (43/67) of asthmatic children and house dust-specific IgE antibody in 62.7% (42/67) and 4) While in asthmatic children, there was a positive correlation (r = + 0.67) between serum IgE concentrations and house dust specific IgE antibodies, no such relation was found for healthy children. It is, therefore, concluded that determinations of serum IgE and house dust-specific IgE antibody are of help in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood asthma.