A Comprehensive Analysis of Immunoglobulin E Levels, Allergen-Specific Sensitivities, and Clinical Manifestations in Allergic Dermatological Conditions: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in China

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics and Basics

Variables	Children Group <18 Years (n=325)	Adult Group 18–60 Years (n=435)	Older Population Group > 60 Years (n=54)	P value
Sex, n(%)				<0.01
Male	183(56.31)	146(33.56)	31(57.41)
Female	142(43.69)	289(66.44)	23(42.59)
Geographical regional distribution, n(%)				0.17
Northern China	267(82.15)	373(85.75)	49(90.74)
Southern China	58(17.85)	62(14.25)	5(9.26)
Geographical and economic regional distribution, n(%)				<0.01
Eastern China	251(77.23)	267(61.38)	40(74.07)
Central China	11(3.38)	35(8.05)	4(7.41)
Western China	63(19.38)	133(30.57)	10(18.52)
Season of onset, n(%)				0.18
Spring	138(42.46)	211(48.51)	26(48.15)
Summer	59(18.15)	57(13.10)	6(11.11)
Autumn	64(19.69)	97(22.30)	9(16.67)
Winter	64(19.69)	70(16.09)	13(24.07)
Age of onset, years	2.75(1.00,7.00)	32.00(24.00,43.00)	65.00(61.00,73.00)	<0.01
Disease duration, years	1.00(0.30,3.00)	1.00(0.17,3.00)	2.00(0.33,4.00)	0.20
Comorbid allergic conditions, n(%)
Presence of one or more conditions	112(34.46)	96(22.07)	12(22.22)	<0.01
Allergic conjunctivitis	60(18.46)	41(9.43)	5(9.26)	<0.01
Allergic rhinitis	86(26.46)	81(18.62)	10(18.52)	0.03
Pruritus severity, n(%)				<0.01
Mild pruritus	60(18.46)	89(20.46)	11(20.37)
Moderate pruritus	144(44.31)	237(54.48)	20(37.04)
Severe pruritus	121(37.23)	109(25.06)	23(42.59)
Severity of skin lesions, n(%)				<0.01
Mild lesion	103(31.79)	230(52.87)	19(35.19)
Moderate lesion	155(47.84)	172(39.54)	20(37.04)
Severe lesion	67(20.62)	33(7.59)	15(27.78)
Presence of food triggers, n(%)	137(42.15)	167(38.39)	17(31.48)	0.27
Effective in avoidance of IgE-positive food allergens, n(%)	203(62.46)	249(57.24)	26(48.15)	0.09
Exacerbation of symptoms after the consumption of IgE-positive foods, n(%)				0.02
Yes	206(63.38)	304(69.89)	44(81.48)
No	25(7.69)	17(3.91)	2(3.70)
Not done	94(28.92)	114(26.21)	8(14.81)

Note: P values in boldface indicate significance.

Table 2 Qualitative Results of Positive Total IgE and Positive Specific IgE Levels Among Different Age Groups, n (%)

Variables	Children Group <18 Years (n=325)	Adult Group 18–60 Years (n=435)	Older Population Group > 60 Years (n=54)	P value
Positive total IgE level	183(56.31)	222(51.03)	28(51.85)	0.35
Presence of positive specific IgE level	301(92.62)	293(67.36)	25(46.30)	<0.01
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus	54(16.62)	88(20.23)	7(12.96)	0.26
Dermatophagoides farinae	63(19.38)	119(27.36)	6(11.11)	<0.01
Salix babylonica	7(2.15)	11(2.53)	0	0.49
Dander of dog	13(4.00)	18(4.14)	1(1.85)	0.71
Cockroach	7(2.15)	26(5.98)	0	0.01
Ambrosia artemisiifolia	7(2.15)	8(1.84)	1(1.85)	0.95
Artemisia argyi	10(3.08)	35(8.05)	2(3.70)	0.01
Dander of cat	23(7.08)	25(5.75)	1(1.85)	0.31
House dust	74(22.77)	66(15.17)	2(3.70)	<0.01
Alternaria	27(8.31)	9(2.07)	0	<0.01
Milk	151(46.46)	42(9.66)	2(3.70)	<0.01
Cod	9(2.77)	7(1.61)	0	0.29
Wheat	88(27.08)	64(14.71)	6(11.11)	<0.01
Peanut	12(3.69)	6(1.38)	0	0.05
Soya bean	12(3.69)	15(3.45)	0	0.36
Crab	16(4.92)	29(6.67)	1(1.85)	0.27
Shrimp	12(3.69)	28(6.44)	2(3.70)	0.21
Egg	216(66.46)	91(20.92)	8(14.81)	<0.01
Beef	9(2.77)	13(2.99)	0	0.44
Mutton	0	6(1.38)	0	0.07

Note: P values in boldface indicate significance.

Table 3 Qualitative Results of Positive Total IgE and Positive Specific IgE Levels for Different Pruritus Degrees Among Different Age Groups, n (%)

Variables	Children Group (<18 Years) (n=325)				Adult Group (18–60 Years) (n=435)				Older Population Group (> 60 Years) (n=54)
	Mild Pruritus	Moderate Pruritus	Severe Pruritus	P value	Mild Pruritus	Moderate Pruritus	Severe Pruritus	P value	Mild Pruritus	Moderate Pruritus	Severe Pruritus	P value
	(n=60)	(n=144)	(n=121)		(n=89)	(n=237)	(n=109)		(n=11)	(n=20)	(n=23)
Positive total IgE level	34(56.67)	73(50.69)	76(62.81)	0.14	49(55.06)	116(48.95)	57(52.29)	0.59	5(45.45)	10(50.00)	13(56.52)	0.82
Presence of positive specific IgE level	52(86.67)	135(93.75)	114(94.21)	0.15	58(65.17)	169(71.31)	66(60.55)	0.12	6(54.55)	11(55.00)	8(34.78)	0.34
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus	8(13.33)	25(17.36)	21(17.36)	0.75	19(21.35)	50(21.10)	19(17.43)	0.70	1(9.09)	3(15.00)	3(13.04)	0.90
Dermatophagoides farinae	11(18.33)	31(21.53)	21(17.36)	0.68	26(29.21)	66(27.85)	27(24.77)	0.76	1(9.09)	2(10.00)	3(13.04)	0.92
Salix babylonica	1(1.67)	3(2.08)	3(2.48)	0.94	4(4.49)	7(2.95)	0	0.11	0	0	0	–
Dander of dog	1(1.67)	7(4.86)	5(4.13)	0.57	4(4.49)	9(3.80)	5(4.59)	0.93	0	1(5.00)	0	0.42
Cockroach	1(1.67)	4(2.78)	2(1.65)	0.79	8(8.99)	13(5.49)	5(4.59)	0.38	0	0	0	–
Ambrosia artemisiifolia	2(3.33)	2(1.39)	3(2.48)	0.65	3(3.37)	4(1.69)	1(0.92)	0.43	0	0	1(4.35)	0.50
Artemisia argyi	0	7(4.86)	3(2.48)	0.17	7(7.87)	19(8.02)	9(8.26)	0.99	0	1(5.00)	1(4.35)	0.76
Dander of cat	4(6.67)	11(7.64)	8(6.61)	0.94	9(10.11)	11(4.64)	5(4.59)	0.14	0	1(5.00)	0	0.42
House dust	11(18.33)	35(24.31)	28(23.14)	0.65	13(14.61)	35(14.77)	18(16.51)	0.90	1(9.09)	0	1(4.35)	0.43
Alternaria	8(13.33)	11(7.64)	8(6.61)	0.28	3(3.37)	5(2.11)	1(0.92)	0.48	0	0	0	–
Milk	30(50.00)	62(43.06)	59(48.76)	0.54	10(11.24)	25(10.55)	7(6.42)	0.41	1(9.09)	0	1(4.35)	0.43
Cod	1(1.67)	1(0.69)	7(5.79)	0.04	2(2.25)	5(2.11)	0	0.30	0	0	0	–
Wheat	13(21.67)	33(22.92)	42(34.71)	0.06	13(14.61)	39(16.46)	12(11.01)	0.41	2(18.18)	3(15.00)	1(4.35)	0.38
Peanut	1(1.67)	2(1.39)	9(7.44)	0.02	2(2.25)	3(1.27)	1(0.92)	0.71	0	0	0	–
Soya bean	0	6(4.17)	6(4.96)	0.23	3(3.37)	9(3.80)	3(2.75)	0.88	0	0	0	–
Crab	3(5.00)	6(4.17)	7(5.79)	0.83	8(8.99)	10(4.22)	11(10.09)	0.08	1(9.09)	0	0	0.14
Shrimp	1(1.67)	6(4.17)	5(4.13)	0.65	3(3.37)	19(8.02)	6(5.50)	0.28	0	2(10.00)	0	0.17
Egg	33(55.00)	98(68.06)	85(70.25)	0.11	17(19.10)	55(23.21)	19(17.43)	0.42	2(18.18)	2(10.00)	4(17.39)	0.75
Beef	5(8.33)	1(0.69)	3(2.48)	0.01	3(3.37)	7(2.95)	3(2.75)	0.97	0	0	0	–
Mutton	0	0	0	–	0	3(1.27)	3(2.75)	0.25	0	0	0	–

Note: P values in boldface indicate significance.

Table 4 Qualitative Results of Positive Total IgE and Positive Specific IgE Levels for Different Lesion Severities Among Different Age Groups, n(%)

Variables	Children Group (<18 Years) (n=325)				Adult Group (18–60 Years) (n=435)				Older Population Group (> 60 Years) (n=54)
	Mild Lesion	Moderate Lesion	Severe Lesion	P value	Mild Lesion	Moderate Lesion	Severe Lesion	P value	Mild Lesion	Moderate Lesion	Severe Lesion	P value
	(n=103)	(n=155)	(n=67)		(n=230)	(n=172)	(n=33)		(n=19)	(n=20)	(n=15)
Positive total IgE level	50(48.54)	85(54.84)	48(71.64)	0.01	121(52.61)	84(48.84)	17(51.52)	0.75	11(57.89)	10(50.00)	7(46.67)	0.79
Presence of positive specific IgE level	92(89.32)	147(94.84)	62(92.54)	0.25	159(69.13)	112(65.12)	22(66.67)	0.69	14(73.68)	7(35.00)	4(26.67)	0.01
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus	16(15.53)	27(17.42)	11(16.42)	0.92	53(23.04)	29(16.86)	6(18.18)	0.30	4(21.05)	2(10.00)	1(6.67)	0.41
Dermatophagoides farinae	19(18.45)	33(21.29)	11(16.42)	0.67	72(31.30)	39(22.67)	8(24.24)	0.14	4(21.05)	1(5.00)	1(6.67)	0.23
Salix babylonica	1(0.97)	4(2.58)	2(2.99)	0.60	7(3.04)	3(1.74)	1(3.03)	0.70	0	0	0	–
Dander of dog	4(3.88)	6(3.87)	3(4.48)	0.98	8(3.48)	9(5.23)	1(3.03)	0.65	1(5.26)	0	0	0.39
Cockroach	2(1.94)	3(1.94)	2(2.99)	0.87	19(8.26)	7(4.07)	0	0.07	0	0	0	–
Ambrosia artemisiifolia	1(0.97)	5(3.23)	1(1.49)	0.43	5(2.17)	2(1.16)	1(3.03)	0.66	0	0	1(6.67)	0.27
Artemisia argyi	1(0.97)	9(5.81)	0	0.02	18(7.83)	13(7.56)	4(12.12)	0.67	1(5.26)	1(5.00)	0	0.67
Dander of cat	5(4.85)	10(6.45)	8(11.94)	0.19	13(5.65)	12(6.98)	0	0.29	1(5.26)	0	0	0.39
House dust	21(20.39)	41(26.45)	12(17.91)	0.30	37(16.09)	24(13.95)	5(15.15)	0.84	1(5.26)	0	0	0.53
Alternaria	11(10.68)	12(7.74)	4(5.97)	0.52	5(2.17)	4(2.33)	0	0.68	0	0	0	–
Milk	47(45.63)	70(45.16)	34(50.75)	0.73	21(9.13)	16(9.30)	5(15.15)	0.54	1(5.26)	0	1(6.67)	0.53
Cod	2(1.94)	2(1.29)	5(7.46)	0.03	3(1.30)	4(2.33)	0	0.54	0	0	0	–
Wheat	22(21.36)	44(28.39)	22(32.84)	0.23	32(13.91)	25(14.53)	7(21.21)	0.54	2(10.53)	3(15.00)	1(6.67)	0.74
Peanut	1(0.97)	3(1.94)	8(11.94)	<0.01	3(1.30)	3(1.74)	0	0.73	0	0	0	–
Soya bean	2(1.94)	5(3.23)	5(7.46)	0.16	6(2.61)	8(4.65)	1(3.03)	0.53	0	0	0	–
Crab	2(1.94)	8(5.16)	6(8.96)	0.12	15(6.52)	11(6.40)	3(9.09)	0.84	0	1(5.00)	0	0.42
Shrimp	3(2.91)	4(2.58)	5(7.46)	0.18	14(6.09)	11(6.40)	3(9.09)	0.81	2(10.53)	0	0	0.15
Egg	55(53.40)	113(72.90)	48(71.64)	<0.01	40(17.39)	45(26.16)	6(18.18)	0.09	4(21.05)	1(5.00)	3(20.00)	0.30
Beef	2(1.94)	4(2.58)	3(4.48)	0.60	5(2.17)	6(3.49)	2(6.06)	0.42	0	0	0	–
Mutton	0	0	0	–	3(1.30)	3(1.74)	0	0.73	0	0	0	–

Note: P values in boldface indicate significance.

Figure 1 Quantitative levels of total IgE for different pruritus degrees among different age groups (excluding 20 patients with IgE >1000 IU/mL).

Figure 2 Quantitative levels of total IgE for different lesion severities among different age groups (excluding 20 patients with IgE >1000 IU/mL).

Figure 3 Heatmap of quantitative levels of specific IgE for different pruritus degrees among different age groups. A=Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, B=Dermatophagoides farinae, C=salix babylonica, D=milk, E=cod, F=wheat, G=peanut, H=soya bean, I=crab, J=shrimp, K=egg, L=beef, M=dander of dog, N=cockroach, O=ambrosia artemisiifolia, P=Artemisia argyi, Q=mutton, R=dander of cat, S=house dust, T=alte.

Figure 4 Heatmap of quantitative levels of specific IgE for different lesion severities among different age groups. A=Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, B=Dermatophagoides farinae, C=salix babylonica, D=milk, E=cod, F=wheat, G=peanut, H=soya bean, I=crab, J=shrimp, K=egg, L=beef, M=dander of dog, N=cockroach, O=ambrosia artemisiifolia, P=Artemisia argyi, Q=mutton, R=dander of cat, S=house dust, T=Alternaria.