PubMed · 1986 · 44 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesImmunologyInternal MedicineAllergyClinical ImmunologyHypersensitivityAllergic DiseaseAutoimmune DiseasesGastrointestinal ImmunologyGastrointestinal InflammationIge-mediated AllergyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseIge-mediated MechanismsInflammatory Bowel Disease ImmunopathogenesisInflammatory Bowel Disease PathogenesisInflammatory Bowel Disease Pathophysiology
The role of allergy in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unclear. The present study was performed to evaluate serum levels of IgE and other immunoglobulin classes in patients with IBD. Patients with IBD had significantly elevated serum levels of both IgG and IgM in the presence of normal levels of IgA. Serum concentration of IgE, as well as the prevalence of patients with "high IgE" were significantly increased in IBD. Among patients with IBD, those with Crohn's disease or those in relapse had the highest levels of IgE. The possibility that allergy plays a pathogenic role in a subset of IBD is discussed.