BACKGROUND: The course of type 1 allergic reaction is a result of compleximmune processes in which immunoglobulin E plays a crucial role. The serum level of this immunoglobulin(IgE(total)) is closely related to the age of the patient. The presented paper analyses IgE(total) inchildren below 3. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study was carried out in group of 291 patients aged 5-39 months.IgE(total) were determined using the Fluoro-FAST 3M. The analysis took into consideration the age, sexand living place of the examined children. RESULTS: The artmetic mean of IgE(total) was 38.8 +/- 4.0IU/ml, the median--12 IU/ml, whereas the 5th and 95th percentile values amounted to 1IU/ml and 185 IU/ml,respectively. According to the standards recommended by the manufacturer of reagents used for determinationof IgE(total) (Bio Whittaker), 103 children (35.4%) had elevated serum levels of IgE(total), whereas196 (67.4%) were found to have elevated IgE(total) according to population standards. The obtained percentagedistribution of elevated IgE(total) values in particular age groups is characterized by stepwise changes,observed in the age intervals for which the range of values considered as normal by the manufactureris changed. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of analyzed IgE(total) determinations it has been established thatthe manufacturer's standards for children aged from 2 to 3 years are overestimated, whereas the populationstandards seem to be underestimated. Therefore, the determination of IgE(total) normal value range requiresfurther studies.

Keywords: Hypersensitivity, Immunoglobulin E, Sensitivity and Specificity