Neonate blood IgE levels on filter paper as indicators of atopic disease.

Measurements of IgE levels in the blood of neonates were investigated using filter paper for blood collection in mass screening of congenital metabolic disorders. Time-resolved fluoroimmunometric assay system for the measurement of filter paper blood IgE levels was also studied. In an analysis of the present results, IgE values of at least 0.015U/ml, the measurement limit, were considered as high. High IgE levels in filter paper blood were seen in 28 (7.2%) of the 389 cases. When the relation with serum IgE levels at 18 months of age was investigated in 134 of 389 subjects, high serum IgE levels were also found in about 86.7% of the subjects with high IgE levels in filter paper blood. In addition, when the relation between family history of atopic disease and presence of atopic disease in the first 18 months of age was investigated in 203 of the 389 subjects, about 90% of the subjects with a family history of atopic disease and high IgE levels in filter paper blood developed atopic disease. Since filter paper blood is routinely collected in Japan, IgE levels in this blood should be widely checked for the prediction of onset of atopic disease in infants.