[Serum immunoglobulin E levels in relation to Waldeyer's ring surgery].

Tonsils and the adenoid are part of Waldeyer's ring, the basic function of which is antibody formation, they react later against a great variety of antigens. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures are among the oldest surgical procedures still performed today. The different immunoglobulin serum levels in patients having undergone extirpation of the tonsils, adenoids or both, have been studied before and after surgery by different authors, with discordant results. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is important in allergic reactions and host defense against parasites. In this study we measured serum levels of immunoglobulin E before and 3 months after tonsillotomy, adenoidectomy, and adenotonsillectomy. There were statistically significant differences between pre and post-operative levels of serum IgE, which decreased after tonsillotomy, but we have not noticed any statistically significant differences in the IgE values after adenoidectomy and adenoidotonsillotomy with respect to those prior to surgery.