Serum IgE levels, helminth infection and socioeconomic change

Lynch, Neil R.; Hagel, Isabel; Prisco, María Cristina Di; López, Ramón López; Garcia, Nancy M.; Pérez, Mireya

doi:10.1016/0169-4758(92)90011-p

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This finding is not entirely surprising, given the relatively low overall prevalence of intestinal parasite infection in our study population (17% in Banjul and 8% in Farafenni area) compared to over 80% earlier in the Gambia [17] or 68% in Venezuela [6]. Lynch [18] reported very high IgE concentrations in their study population prior to de‐worming treatment and in those who did not receive de‐worming treatment. With de‐worming treatment, allergic sensitization rose while total IgE levels fell.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Atopy, intestinal helminth infection and total serum IgE in rural and urban adult Gambian communities

Nyan

Walraven

Banya

et al. 2001

Clin Experimental Allergy

145

114

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Atopy, intestinal helminth infection and total serum IgE in rural and urban adult Gambian communities

Nyan

Walraven

Banya

et al. 2001

Clin Experimental Allergy

145

114

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These results support the concept that mild and sporadic helminthic infections, such as experienced by the tropical M-HSEL, can increase the allergic reactivity via the nonspecific potentiation of IgE synthesis against common environmental allergens [17,18], In contrast to the M-HSEL, the prevalence of allergic conditions is significantly lower in persons with the same racial and cultural background, but of low socioeconomic level, living in urban slums or rural areas, where helmin thic infection is endemic [28]. We should remark here that over the years of our study, we have noted a substantial in crease in helminthic infection and total IgE levels in the low socioeconomic levels, which probably reflects the worsening economic situation of Venezuela [40,41] that has resulted in the restriction of many public health ser vices [34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Allergic Reactivity of Children of Different Socioeconomic Levels in Tropical Populations

Hagel

Lynch

DiPrisco

et al. 1993

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Widely variable prevalences of allergic diseases have been reported in tropical populations, and this has been suggested to be due to effects of the nonspecific polyclonal stimulation of IgE synthesis caused by the helminthic infections that are endemic in these areas. Since 1980, we have been evaluating the allergic reactivity of different socioeconomic sectors of the population of tropical Venezuela (lat. 2–12°N), and in the present study analyze the overall results obtained in the laboratory evaluation of children (5–15 years of age) belonging to these groups. Children of medium-high socioeconomic level (M-HSEL), who experience occasional helminthic infections, have moderately high total serum IgE levels, and have elevated skin test positivities and specific IgE levels against environmental allergens. Persons of low socioeconomic level, in the urban, and particularly rural situation experience frequent helminthic infection, and have highly elevated total serum IgE levels. In contrast to the M-HSEL, the majority of these children have detectable specific IgE antibody against a variety of inhalant allergens, but relatively few have high levels, and their skin test positivity is also low. In these frequently parasitized persons, evidence of saturation of mast cell Fcε receptors was found by tests of passive sensitization. We propose, therefore, that helminthic parasites have a biphasic effect on allergic reactivity; occasional infections are stimulatory, via their nonspecific potentiation of IgE synthesis against environmental allergens, and frequent infections are suppressive due to the widely polyclonal stimulation that they cause, resulting in both diminished specific antibody production against any given allergen and mast cell Fcε receptor saturation.

show abstract

“…It can be seen in Table 1 that the prevalence of helminthic infection in the slum children was very high, and that Ascuris was the predominant parasite. Despite this, and probably due to our medical intervention in the slum area over the past years (Lynch et al 1992), the intensity of infection in these children is moderate and non-clustered. between IgE and IL-4 levels (r = 0.78, P < 0.001; Figure 1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…The effect observed depends upon the degree of helminthic infection, because groups suffering mild infection tend to exhibit high allergic reactivity, probably due to the preferential potentiation of pre-existing IgE responses to environmental allergens (Joubert et al 1980, Lynch et al 1987. In contrast, under conditions of heavy parasitic infection the stimulation of IgE synthesis is possibly widely polyclonal (Lynch et al 1992), and it has been suggested that this can cause a saturation of mast cell FCE receptors (Bazaral et al 1973, Godfrey & Gradidge 1976 and thus inhibition of allergic reactivity (Lynch et al 1983, Turner 1978. This latter hypothesis has, however, been questioned, as it has been reported that I. Hu& et a1…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modulation of the allergic reactivity of slum children by helminthic infection

Hagel

Lynch

Pérez

et al. 1993

Parasite Immunology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Infection by helminthic parasites can cause the polyclonal stimulation of IgE synthesis, possibly via an enhanced production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), and this has been suggested to influence the allergic reactivity of tropical populations where these parasites are endemic. We evaluated a group of urban slum children in Caracas, Venezuela, with a high prevalence of helminthic infection (70.8%), to establish the relationship between the elevated IgE levels (3696 IU/ml) induced by these parasites and various aspects of the allergic response. Although the absolute levels of IL-4 detected in the sera of these children were low (0.65 +/- 0.20 ng/ml), a strong positive correlation (r = 0.78) was found between these and serum IgE. The cutaneous immediate hypersensitivity reactivity to extracts of common environmental allergens was relatively low (17.5% to house dust), although that to Ascaris extract was moderately high (49.4%). Significant inverse correlations were found between total IgE levels and the different skin test reaction diameters, including Ascaris. The positivity of Prausnitz-Kustner passive transfer tests was low in this group (34%), with a strong inverse correlation (r = -0.75) being found between this and total IgE levels. Significant inverse correlations were also found between total IgE levels and specific IgE antibody to environmental allergens, and to Ascaris antigen. We suggest that the polyclonal production of IgE stimulated by helminthic infection can suppress the allergic response to environmental and parasite allergens via both mast cell saturation and inhibition of specific IgE production.

show abstract

Serum IgE levels, helminth infection and socioeconomic change

Cited by 9 publications

References 9 publications

Atopy, intestinal helminth infection and total serum IgE in rural and urban adult Gambian communities

Atopy, intestinal helminth infection and total serum IgE in rural and urban adult Gambian communities

Allergic Reactivity of Children of Different Socioeconomic Levels in Tropical Populations

Modulation of the allergic reactivity of slum children by helminthic infection

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About