Year-round total serum IgE and IgG4 levels in allergic and non-allergic West Indian Medical Students

ABSTRACT

Twenty-four allergic and non-allergic West Indian medical studients and pathology technologists had repeated serum IgE and IgG4 levels determined over a one-year period. Contrary to previously published reports on this type of population, total serum IgE levels were usualaly consistently normal (18 of 24 subjects) with little variation throughout the year. The remaininh six subjects, all allergic, showed moderately elevated levels (620 - 1096 KU/1). Total serum IgG4 was elevated in most of the allergic and non-allergic subjects (18 of 24). Perinnial exposure to molds and house dust mite in this tropical environment could possibly produce the chronic antigenic stimulation responsible for the elevation in serum IgG4 levels found in this study