We analyzed data from 44 patients with PSC and known serum levels of IgE. They were divided into groups called high IgE (>170 IU/mL; n = 17) or normal IgE (n = 27). We compared occurrence of biliary carcinoma including cholangiocellular and gallbladder carcinoma, liver transplantation, and death between groups.
The high IgE group had a later age of onset of PSC than the normal IgE group (54 ¡À 20 y vs 39 ¡À 16 y; P = .010); they also had a higher serum level of IgG (2078 ¡À 638 vs 1517 ¡À 475 mg/dL; P = .002) and IgG4 (104 ¡À 102 vs 38 ¡À 16 mg/dL; P = .002). Association with inflammatory bowel disease did not differ significantly between groups (5 of 17 vs 11 of 27; P = .661). No patient had biliary carcinoma in the high IgE group, but biliary carcinoma was observed during the follow-up period in 8 patients in the normal IgE group (0 of 17 vs 8 of 27; P = .016). The occurrence of biliary carcinoma, liver transplantation, or death did not differ between groups (4 of 17 vs 13 of 27; P = .124).
High serum levels of IgE often are observed in older patients with PSC and are associated with a reduced incidence of biliary carcinoma.