THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IGE-MEDIATED AND CELL-MEDIATED HYPERSENSITIVITIES IN AN UNSELECTED DANISH POPULATION - THE GLOSTRUP ALLERGY STUDY,DENMARK

In this study, we have assessed the relationship between IgE-mediated and cell-mediated hypersensitivities ies in an unselected population l iving in western Copenhagen, Denmark. A total of 793 subjects, aged 15 -69 years, were studied. Measurements of total serum IgE, prick tests with aeroallergens and patch tests with environmental haptens were per formed in 561 (70.7% of 793) subjects. One or more positive prick test s were present in 28.4%. and contact sensitization occurred in 15.2%. When adjusted for the effects of sex and age, the probability of conta ct sensitization to one or more hapten was independent of serum IgE le vel (the odds ratio value (OR) = 1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0 .7-1.4), and the probability of contact sensitization was independent of the number of positive prick tests (OR = 1.0; CI = 0.8-1.2). Contac t sensitization appeared to be independent of enhanced IgE responsiven ess in an unselected adult population.