High IgE levels - 6,600 and atopic dermatitis

[NancyB612]

My 16 year old son's recent test showed IGE level of 6,600.  Our allergist wants to put him on Xolair.  His symptoms are severe atopic dermatistis for the past three years.  He used to have moderate asthma but has been in remission for three years. He tests postive for most airborn allergens and reacts to skin tests for many  foods except milk.  He is otherwise healthy and thriving, he runs track in high school.  Except he has acne. No hyper- IGE symptoms. No classic celiac symptoms. He takes singulair 10mg, carinex 5mg, Nicomide, and Hydroxyzine 10-30mg at night.  I stopped doing the cortisone shots last year when he had flare ups now we just deal with it with creams.  He is on sublingual airborn allergy drops. I think the Xolair would be an expensive bandaid and he may have a food that is the root cause. Since he reacted to most foods in the skin tests it will be a long process of elimination.  Our allergist also suggested we take him to The Jewish hospital in Colorado to get to the bottom of this.  He did have geographic tongue when two. He is of Korean heritage.  It is a constant, painful, itchy companion for him with awful flare-ups.  Any help would be appreciated!

[National Jewish Health]

Our understanding of the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD) has increased dramatically in the past decade, with major contributions by the physician-researchers at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado who also have an avid interest in food allergies.

To learn more please read our (1) food allergy information by copying and pasting this address

http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/allergy/about/allergic-to/food.aspx

into the address window of your internet browser, (2) atopic dermatitis information by copying and pasting this address

http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/allergy/about/conditions/eczema.aspx

into the address window of your internet browser.

Give serious consideration to your allergist's recommendation that you seek a second opinion at National Jewish.  To learn more please read our how to become a patient information by copying and pasting this address

http://www.nationaljewish.org/patient-info/become/index.aspx

into the address window of your internet browser.

The treatment of AD is evolving rapidly with the use of the allergen-specific sublingual immunotherapy your son is receiving, and the use of anti-leukotriene medicines and probiotics.

Your son's situation is complex.  As you know, asthma is a disease that fluctuates in severity, over time; not infrequently over decades.  It is conceivable that effective therapy for your son's AD, now, could have a salutary effect on the severity of his asthma, in the future.

Good luck.