Serum immunoglobulin values in patients with scabies

Serum total IgE levels were found to be increased in thirty-nine of ninety-four patients with scabies investigated at the time of clinical presentation. One hundred and fifty-four patients were found to have a slightly lower serum concentration of IgA during infection than when measured 6 weeks and 9 months following successful treatment (P less than 0.05). The serum concentration of IgA at 6 weeks and 9 months after treatment did not differ significantly. The serum concentration of IgG during infection was significantly higher than 6 weeks later (P less than 0.05), and than 9 months later (P less than 0.01). The 6 weeks levels were significantly higher than the results at 9 month (P less than 0.01). The serum concentration of IgM during infection was higher than 6 weeks later (P less than 0.1). The 6 weeks levels were lower than those at 9 months (P less than 0.1), whereas there was no difference between the pretreatment and 9 months levels. No differences were noted in the concentration of C3 and C4. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) were not found in any of the patients. In thirty-two patients with lichen planus no changes in immunoglobulins or complement were observed. This suggests that scabies infection may be associated with a humoral immumological response against the scabies infection.