IgE LEVELS IN THE SERA OF ASTHMATIC CHILDREN.

The serum IgE concentrations of children with varying grades of asthma were determined. The mean serum IgE level in each grade corresponded with the severity of asthma in that grade, there being a significantly increased mean serum IgE level in children in the most severely affected grades. Several individuals with pronounced asthma had anomalously low serum IgE levels and conversely a few subjects with no, or minimal clinical evidence of asthma had disproportionately high levels of IgE. An immunopathological interpretation of these findings is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]