IgE serum levels in urinary schistosomiasis.

IgE serum levels were determined by PRIST in 56 patients suffering from urinary schistosomiasis and in 39 healthy subjects living in the Coriolei area, south of Mogadishu. Abnormally high IgE values (as referred to normal values found in European healthy controls) were observed in 87.5% of the patients, the mean average being 1359.58 +/- 721.11 U/ml in schistosomiasis and 430.57 +/- 600.90 U/ml in Somalian healthy controls (P less than 0.01). The possible role of IgE in parasitic infection is discussed.