Correlation between atopy and Gm allotypes

In 50 consecutive atopic Caucasian patients with increased IgE greater than 600 kU/l, the phenotypic Gm allotype constellation deviated from that to be expected, with significantly increased frequency of patients with the phenotype Gm(f,n,b). There was an increased frequency of the G2m(n) allotype, more frequent in patients with IgE greater than 1,000 kU/l, and in patients with IgG4 greater than 1 g/l. In patients with IgE greater than 1,000 kU/l the phenotype Gm(a,f,n,b) was significantly increased and in patients with IgG4 greater than 1 g/l the phenotype Gm(f,n,b) was significantly increased. Those atopic patients with increased IgE and increased IgG4, according to earlier studies known to have the most severe forms of the disease, were thus mainly found to have the m(f,n,b) phenotype.