Abstract

Objective

Allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction triggered by various factors through immunological mechanisms. Elevated serum total IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil levels are commonly observed in allergic diseases; however, these biomarkers are not specific to allergy. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum total IgE, eosinophil, and basophil levels in predicting atopy.

Method

Atopic and non-atopic patients under 18 years of age diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, or asthma.were compared in terms of serum total IgE levels, eosinophil, and basophil counts.

Results

A total of 673 patients including  406 (60.3%) atopic and 267 (39.7%) non-atopic cases constituted the study population. Most frequently  sensitization developed  to egg in atopic dermatitis, and food allergy, to tree pollens in allergic rhinitis, and to house dust mite in asthma. Elevated total IgE levels were significantly associated with atopy in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma, with odds ratios of 3.33 and 16.37, respectively (p<0.001). The optimal predictive cut-off value of serum total IgE for atopic asthma was calculated as 108.5 kU/L, with a sensitivity of 85.6% and specificity of 76.6%. Similarly, a significant association was observed between eosinophilia and atopy in allergic rhinitis and asthma, but not in atopic dermatitis.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that serum total IgE is a sensitive and specific biomarker for predicting atopy in patients with asthma.