THE DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL AND SPECIFIC SERUM IGE IN THE EUROPEAN-COMMUNITY RESPIRATORY HEALTH SURVEY

Background: Variations in the prevalence of atopy could provide import ant clues to the etiology of atopy and asthma, Although estimates of p revalence are available from different studies, a lack of standardizat ion makes comparisons difficult. Objective: This study was conducted t o estimate the variation of geometric mean levels of serum IgE and the prevalence of specific IgE to common allergens between populations as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS), a m ulticenter survey of asthma and risk factors for asthma. Methods: Rand om samples of subjects living in 37 centers in 16 countries who had an swered a questionnaire about their respiratory symptoms were invited f or further assessment including total serum IgE and the presence of sp ecific IgE against house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), t imothy grass, cat, Cladosporium herbarum, and a local allergen. Sera w ere tested from 13,883 persons. Results: The estimated prevalence of a topy, defined as the presence of at least one positive specific IgE, r anged from 16% in Albacete (Spain) to 45% in Christchurch (New Zealand ). The geometric mean total serum IgE varied from 13 kU/L in Reykjavik (Iceland) to 62 kU/L in Bordeaux (France). There was no relation betw een the geometric mean total serum IgE in a center and the prevalence of atopy. Conclusions: There are substantial variations in the prevale nce of atopy and the level of serum IgE. These variations are independ ent of each other and likely to he largely environmental in origin.