Increased Total Serum IgE in Alcoholics

Abstract

Total serum IgE concentrations were measured in 106 male alcoholics with current alcohol abstinence of varying duration. The influence of smoking habits and clinical atopy on IgE levels was considered. The majority (91%) of the alcoholics were smokers and 26 % suffered from possible clinical atopy. The geometric mean IgE in non-atopic, smoking alcoholics was 42 kU/I and significantly higher than the mean IgE level, 19 kU/I, in age-matched, smoking, non-atopic male participants in a general health survey @<0.001). The IgE levels declined with the length of the alcohol abstinence period. Alcoholics, serially followed after a heavy drinking spree, showed a uniform pattern of declining IgE levels during a fortnight of abstinence (p <0.001).No link was noted between total IgE levels and the extent of liver affection as estimated by various serum variables (bilirubin, aminotransferases, 'y-GT, IgG, IgA and IgM) or galactose tolerance test. The increased IgE levels in alcoholics are suggested to reflect an influence of ethanol on T lymphocytes regulating the IgE synthesis. Such a proposed effect of ethanol on cellular immunity may contribute to certain organic alcohol diseases, but does not appear to influence the frequency of clinical atopy, being similar in our patient group and in the general population of the same geographic area.

Minor Interference of Cross-Reactive Carbohydrates with the Diagnosis of Respiratory Allergy in Standard Clinical Conditions

“…Alcohol consumption is consistently associated with increased levels of serum total IgE in selected samples of alcohol abusers [17,19] in the general population [18,20] and in allergy clinics [21], as is evident in the present study. Previous reports showed that heavy drinking is associated with CCD sensitization [6,7,22,23].…”

“…From the initial CCD description in 1984 [16], Hymenoptera stings have been suspected as a source of CCD sensitization [15]. Additional factors for sensitization may include alcohol consumption, which increases total IgE levels [17,18,19,20,21] and is consistently associated with CCD sensitization [6,7,22,23]. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IgE-mediated CCD sensitization in patients who attended an allergy clinic due to suspicion of respiratory allergy.…”

Evaluation of Serum Immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and Total IgE in Chronic Alcoholics: A Community-based Study

“…Similar to our findings, few other studies have found a relation between alcohol abuse and raised total IgE [10,[20][21][22]. A recent Korean study showed an increased prevalence of allergic sensitization to house dust mite in alcoholics [20].…”

Sensitization to cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants in relation to alcohol consumption

“…Since initial descriptions [1], several studies have confirmed the finding of high serum IgE in alcoholics [2][3][4]. Moreover, moderate-to-heavy alcohol drinkers show an increase in total serum IgE when compared with abstainers [5][6][7].…”

“…Moreover, moderate-to-heavy alcohol drinkers show an increase in total serum IgE when compared with abstainers [5][6][7]. The association of alcohol consumption with increased IgE levels is independent of age, sex, liver disease, nutrition, and smoking [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Furthermore, alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with increased cord blood IgE concentrations [8].…”