A pilot study to assess relationship between total IgE and 95% predictive decision points of food specific IgE concentration

E. Yousef, A.S. Haque

Background. False positive test results in children who are tested for food allergies may lead to inappropriate dietary restrictions. Objective. The aim of this study was to report our experience with a 3 year-old boy, who presented with "multiple food allergies" and, however, passed the food challenges, and to review our experience regarding management of children with high specific food IgEs with high total IgE. Methods. Medical records of 16 children with food challenges were reviewed. Median age of subjects was 39 months, with a history of adverse clinical reaction to a food, a specific IgE greater than the decision point, and an elevated total serum IgE level of 500 IU, underwent challenges to the offending food. Results. 13 out of 16 subjects were successfully re-exposed to the suspected foods and continued to tolerate these foods well. Conclusion. Our finding suggests a much lower clinical risk with previously defined specific IgE decision points in children with very high levels of total IgE (> 6000 IU/ml).
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