THE RELATIONSHIP OF MOLDS SPECIFIC IGE TO TOTAL IGE AND AGE IN MIDWEST PEDIATRIC POPULATION

Abstract

Introduction Exposures to certain molds can cause disease in human. IgE to common inhalant molds is seen in 10% of population. 50% of those are predicted to have allergic symptoms as a result of exposure to fungal allergens. Relation between mold exposure and increase in total IgE is reported. The aim is to assess whether there is relationship between fungi specific IgE level and age. Methods Laboratory results of 11,073 specific IgE to fungi including Alternaria, Aspergilus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium and 6001 total IgE evaluations were reviewed. Subjects with specific IgE results >0.1 and/or total IgE results >2.0 but Results Mean specific IgE values for Alternaria ranged from 2.6 in under 1 year old children to 15.9 in 14-15 year old children. Mean specific IgE to Aspergillus ranged from 0.8 in 1-2 year old children to 11 in 10-11 year old children. Total IgE values ranged from 15.6 in 3-4 year old children to 39.2 in 14-15 year old children. Both specific IgE to fungus and total IgE trend upward with age with specific IgE rising more sharply during early development. Mean specific IgE appeared to peak at puberty but mean total IgE continued to rise slowly throughout the pediatric period. Conclusions Both mean total and specific IgE against fungi rise as a pediatric population ages with total IgE having a lower rate of increase.