| Abstract: | Total serum IgE concentrations were measured in 106 male alcoholics with current alcohol abstinence of varying duration. The influence of smoking habits and clinical atopy on IgE levels was considered. The majority (91%) of the alcoholics were smokers and 26% suffered from possible clinical atopy. The geometric mean IgE in non-atopic, smoking alcoholics was 42 kU/l and significantly higher than the mean IgE level, 19 kU/l, in age-matched, smoking, non-atopic male participants in a general health survey (p less than 0.001). The IgE levels declined with the length of the alcohol abstinence period. Alcoholics, serially followed after a heavy drinking spree, showed a uniform pattern of declining IgE levels during a fortnight of abstinence (p less than 0.001). No link was noted between total IgE levels and the extent of liver affection as estimated by various serum variables (bilirubin, aminotransferases, gamma-GT, IgG, IgA and IgM) or galactose tolerance test. The increased IgE levels in alcoholics are suggested to reflect an influence of ethanol on T lymphocytes regulating the IgE synthesis. Such a proposed effect of ethanol on cellular immunity may contribute to certain organic alcohol diseases, but does not appear to influence the frequency of clinical atopy, being similar in our patient group and in the general population of the same geographic area. |
