Increased serum IgE in Hodgkin's disease is of polyclonal origin

Abstract

The light chain of serum IgE from 4 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease with elevated IgE levels was studied by an immunoadsorbent technique. Serum IgE was found to contain both kappa and lambda light chains in all cases studied. In addition an association between serum levels of IgE and that of IgA, IgG, and IgM was demonstrated. These findings make it unlikely that increased serum IgE in Hodgkin's disease is of monoclonal origin and support the view that serum IgE in such patients reflects a general disturbance in the regulation of their humoral immune response.