Undetectable Serum IgE Is a Sensitive and Specific Marker of Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)

• Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by antibody deficiency and recurrent infections as well as autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, and hematologic malignancy. The current diagnostic criteria for CVID include reduction in serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G and either IgA or IgM and failure of antibody production. Serum IgE level is not currently considered in establishing the diagnosis of CVID. Methods: A cohort of 123 subjects from the University of Virginia Health Systems, Medical College of Wisconsin and Mount Sinai School of Medicine were diagnosed with CVID by an experienced immunologist on the basis of currently accepted diagnostic criteria, including clinical history, serum IgG, IgA and IgM, and antibody response to vaccinations. Serum IgE was measured in all of these subjects using the Phadia ImmunoCap system. Serum IgE was also measured in an unbiased control cohort of 963 healthy 17-18 year olds from northern Sweden. Results: The prevalence of undetectable (<2 IU/ml) total serum IgE in our cohort of 123 subjects with CVID was 84.6% and the prevalence of IgE <10 IU/ml was 97.6%. In comparison, IgE <2 IU/ml was found in only 3.8% of controls, in agreement with other published population estimates. Conclusions: The finding of an undetectable (<2 IU/ml) serum IgE has both a high sensitivity of 84.6% and a high specificity of 96.2% for the diagnosis of CVID. Based on this observation, measurement of serum IgE should be included as a part of the routine laboratory work-up for CVID, and an undetectable serum IgE included as a component of the diagnostic criteria.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Immunologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Immunology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)