All issues > Volume 43(4); 2000

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2000;43(4):502-505. Published online April 15, 2000.

Association between Tuberculin Responses and Serum IgE

Pil Ju PJ Jeong¹, Yong Dae YD Ham¹, Jin Hwa JH Jeong¹, Jeong Ho JH Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Maryknoll Hospital, Pusan, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Atopy is a state of allergic response, mediated by IgE, to common environmental allergens. In recent decades, there has been an increase in prevalence of atopic disorders in children in developed countries. The factor associated with the rise of atopy incidence may be declining exposure to some infection opportunities. The aim of this study is to determine if the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis can suppress atopy by investigating the association between tuberculin responses and serum IgE.
Methods
: We divided the patients into two groups according to tuberculin skin test. Group A showed positive response(induration diameter≥10mm), while Group B showed negative response (induration diameter<10mm). A comparison was made between the two groups in terms of age, sex, serum total IgE and allergen-specific IgE.
Results
: Twenty-one patients comprised Group A and 72 comprised Group B. The mean serum total IgE concentration and the number of patients showing positive MAST in Group B was significantly higher than that of Group A(P<0.05).
Conclusion
: In our study, there was an inverse association between delayed hypersensitivity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and atopy.

Keywords :Atopy, IgE, Tuberculin skin test, Delayed hypersensitivity