We aimed to investigate whether there is a direct correlation of serum IgE concentration with severity of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).
Design: Prospective study.
Settings: University medical center. Forty-six patients (27 female, 19 male) who were diagnosed as acute PTE in our clinic between 01 October 2000 and 30 November 2001 comprised the study group. Mean age was 55 (range was 20-82). The study group was divided into three groups according to severity of PTE: Group A, submassive PTE without pulmonary infarction (20 patients); group B, submassive PTE with pulmonary infarction (15 patients); and group C, massive PTE (11 patients). Serum IgE concentrations were measured by ELISA method at 1st, 5th, 15th, 30th, 60th, 90th days, and 120th days, if needed, after the diagnosis. Statistical analysis was made by Post hoc Tukey test. First day serum IgE levels were highest in group B (mean 507.7) followed by group C (mean 324.2), and were lowest in group A (mean 117.2). The differences between group B and group C, between group B and group A, and also between group C and A were all statistically significant (p< 0.5, p< 0.0001, p< 0.015, respectively). 5th day and 15th day results showed statistically significant differences between group B and A, and between group C and A (at 5th day: p<0.0001, p< 0.015 respectively, and at 15th day: p< 0.0001, p< 0.012 respectively). At 30th, 60th, and 90th days of diagnosis serum IgE concentrations were higher in group B than in group A which were statistically significant (p< 0.0001, p< 0.0001, p< 0.019 respectively). Patients with submassive PTE and pulmonary infarction had the highest serum IgE concentrations and the longest duration of high levels of IgE.