Helminthiasis, mite-allergy and IgE in a homogenous tropical population

Abstract

Of 77 eosinophilic male adolescents studied, 12% were found to have helminthiasis and high circulating serum levels of IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. This shows that worm-infested individuals can still mount high IgE responses to atopic non-helminthic allergens. The total serum IgE levels of these individuals were not significantly different from those with helminthiasis only, suggesting that there may be some form of repression of helminth-induced non-specific IgE in the presence of atopy; alternatively, allergen-related IgE may be repressed when an individual is worm-infested.