IgE is the antibody thought to be responsible for developing allergies. Undetectable serum IgE (an IgE below the lower limit of detection) is found in about 3% of the general population. In the past, it has been thought that having an undetectable IgE does not have any health impact, other than meaning that you are at low risk for having allergies. However, recent studies of patients with undetectable IgE have shown higher rates of infections, autoimmune disease and cancer.~Patients with an immune deficiency called common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) also have higher rates of infections, autoimmune disease and cancer. Recently, we have shown that most patients with CVID have a low/undetectable serum IgE.~This study is trying to find out if an undetectable serum IgE is a biomarker, or early sign of, the development of CVID or other antibody deficiencies
This study is trying to find out if an undetectable serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a biomarker, or early sign of, the development of immune deficiency.