Change of serum IgE concentration in asthmatic attack.

Thirty-two patients with clinical diagnosis of bronchial asthma were evaluated. Serum IgE levels, measured by the Phadebas IgE test, were clearly increased in the patients with asthmatic attack compared with those without asthmatic attack. When the patients were grouped according to the clinical grading of severity of asthmatic attack, the levels showed the significant elevation in proportion to the intensity of asthmatic attack and were higher in the group of severe attack or moderately severe attack than in the group of mild attack. When the serial determination of serum IgE concentration was performed during the clinical course of the patients, a high correlation was observed between the levels and the intensity of asthmatic attack.