[The clinical study about the serum total and specific IgE levels in Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis patients].

Objective: The aim of our study was to clarify the diagnosis value of total IgE and the relationship between total and specific IgE.

Method: Eight-seven Artemisia pollen-sensitive allergic rhinitis patients with obvious autumn onset and 80 nonatopic healthy controls were recruited for this study. Serum levels of total IgE were determined by using the Elecsys IgE reagent kit (Roche). Serum-specific IgE antibodies against Artemisia pollen were measured by using a fluorescent enzyme immunoassay (UniCAP system, Pharmacia and Upjohn Diagnostics).

Result: The serum total IgE levels in patients with allergic rhinitis were compared with the controls. The total IgE levels of the patients were much higher than those of the controls(Geometric mean of the patients and the controls were 0. 185 U/L and 0. 050 U/L respectively, P <0.01). The correlation of the serum Artemisia pollen specific IgE and total IgE levels in patients with allergic rhinitis was made. No correlation was found between the total and specific IgE levels ( P >0. 05).

Conclusion: There are some reference values for the serum total IgE levels to the diagnosis of the Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis patients. There are no correlation between the serum Artemisia pollen specific IgE and total IgE levels in patients with allergic rhinitis. Its value is limited to predict the specific value according the total IgE.