Serum IgE and IgG4 concentrations were determined in 102 children with atopic dermatitis (AD) of varying severity and activity. Total as well as specific IgE levels, determined by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST), were correlated with disease severity and the coexistence of atopic respiratory diseases. The IgG 4 levels of children with only AD, even in severe cases, were within the normal ranges of healthy children. In contrast, the IgG4 levels of children with both cutaneous and respiratory atopic manifestations were elevated, suggesting that IgG4 are probably associated with respiratory diseases but do not play any role in the pathogenesis of the skin disorder.

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