Total and specific immunoglobulin E in schistosomiasis.

Total and Schistosoma related IgE were estimated in sera from 29 active schistosomal patients with different infection intensities and different pathological complications. Schistosomal patients had significantly higher total IgE levels and parasite related IgE was detected in 89.65% of them. A highly significant correlation was found between total and specific IgE. No correlation was found between neither total IgE nor parasite related IgE and the log and mean of stool egg counts. The levels of total and parasite related IgE did not differ between hepatosplenomegalic and intestinal patients or between mixed and monoinfected patients. Parasite related IgE was significantly higher in Schistosoma mansoni (s.m.) manifested group compared to S. haematobium (S.h.) manifested one.