HIGH IGE SERUM LEVELS AND PEPTIC-ULCERS - CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL-APPROACH

The prevalence of high total IgE serum levels was evaluated in 232 con secutive patients suffering from peptic ulcer. Twenty-one percent of t he patients presented total IgE serum levels above 200 KU/L compared w ith the 5% found in a healthy control population (p<0.004). Similar pr evalence was found in gastric and/or duodenal ulcers. No significant d ifferences in the duration of the disease, smoking habits, familiarity for peptic ulcer, symptomatology and frequency of complications were observed between patients with high and with normal total IgE serum le vels. Gastric function studies (gastric acid secretion, serum pepsinog en and gastrin levels) did not show any significant differences betwee n the two groups. The incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 6 5% in patients with normal IgE levels and 75% in those with high IgE l evels (p: n.s.). The response to treatment with full dose of H2-recept or antagonists was comparable in both groups (91.25% and 90.7% of ulce r healing after 6-8 weeks of treatment). A relapse of the ulcer after 6 months of maintenance therapy (half dose of H2-receptor antagonists) was observed in 39.5% of the patients with ulcer and high total IgE s erum as against the 11.9% observed in patients with normal IgE (p<0.00 1). These data lend further support to the hypothesis of an underlying immuno-allergic reaction in some forms of gastric or duodenal ulcer.