The effect of high dose glucocorticoid therapy on immunoglobulin E in asthma.

Serum IgE levels were measured before and after high dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy in 14 patients with severe asthma. Eight patients received methylprednisolone 125 mg every 6 hours, four received methylprednisolone 60 mg every 6 hours, and two patients received hydrocortisone 100 mg every 6 hours. In patients receiving the higher dose, in extrinsic asthma, and in those not recently receiving corticosteroids, total serum IgE levels tended to decrease within a short interval after corticosteroid therapy.