The distribution patterns and clinical significance of serum immunoglobulin E in children with chalazion in Hubei, China.

Background: Chalazion is common in children which can lead to cosmetically disfiguring, ptosis, astigmatism, and affect the quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution patterns of serum total immunoglobulin E (T-IgE) and specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels in children with chalazia, further to explore the clinical significance of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the development of chalazion.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled children with chalazion or allergic conjunctivitis (AC) in Hubei, China, from June 2020 to December 2021. The food and inhaled sIgE were summarized. Meanwhile, the correlations between serum T-IgE, the numbers of positive sIgE, grades of sIgE, and the stages of chalazion in children were analyzed.

Results: A total of 224 children with chalazion were included, among whom 98 (43.8%) were males, with average age of 3.5±2.0 years (range, 0.5 to 11.2 years). Compared to AC, the sIgE positive rate of epithelial materials of dogs was higher in chalazia children (9.4% vs. 0.6%, P=0.001). The positive rate of food allergens-sIgE in preschool children with chalazion (71.4%) was higher than that in school children (50.0%) (P=0.008). Furthermore, the numbers and the grade of sIgE had a positive correlation with the stages of chalazia, respectively (R=0.269, 0.245, P<0.001). Moreover, there was also a positive correlation between T-IgE and the stages of chalazia (R=0.238, P=0.001).

Conclusions: Compared to AC, children with chalazion are more sensitive to the epithelial materials of dogs in Hubei province. Meanwhile, children with high level of T-IgE and more positive allergens-sIgE associated with more severe stage of chalazia.