The laboratory assessment of allergic disease in a veteran population.

In a series of 101 allergy clinic patients, the degree of atopy by clinical history and skin testing was compared with the serum IgE level, total eosinophil count, sinus roentgenograms, and ventilatory function tests. Serum IgE levels were statistically related to the clinical history and skin test evidence for atopy; however, there was a marked overlap in atopic and nonatopic patients. Although sinus roentgenograms were frequently abnormal (50%), the presence or absence of the radiographic sinus abnormality had no relationship to the skin test results, clinical history of allergy, eosinophil count, or serum IgE level. The presence of a sinus roentgenogram abnormality did correlate with the extent of respiratory disease. Similarly, the eosinophil count correlated with the extent of respiratory involvement rather than IgE-mediated hypersensitivity.