The relationship between reported atopy or allergy and immunoglobulins: a preliminary study.

The serum of 50 surgical patients with a history of asthma, hay fever or allergy has been analysed for IgE levels and compared with a control group without such a history. The values in the 'normal' group largely fell within the accepted range (below 200 iu./ml). Those in the 'hypersensitive' group had a wide range extending to over 1000 iu./ml but many of those with low values in this group had contact dermatitis and similar minor allergies. However, analysis of cases studied shows that any patient with a history of atopy or allergy is at risk from Cremophor-containing intravenous anaesthetics.