We quantitated puncture skin-test responses to 6 standardized, high-quality-inhalant allergen extracts in 320 adults – a stratified random sample, equally distributed between the sexes and among all decades between 20 and 60 years. For each subject, the ‘average’ IgE-mediated skin sensitivity to the entire panel of allergens (Allergy Index) was calculated. We evaluated correlations between logtotal serum IgE levels and Allergy Index versus quantitative measures of several environmental variables, including (a) infection in childhood, (b) residential history and (c) smoking history. Age, sex and month bled were also included in these analyses. Although many significant intercorrelations were found among these variables, subsequent analyses by stepwise multiple regression showed (a) that logtotal IgE, age and smoking history were the best predictors of the Allergy Index and (b) that the Allergy Index and sex were the best predictors of logtotal IgE. The negative relationship between smoking and skin-test responsiveness may reflect a tendency for allergic people to avoid the irritative effects of smoking on respiration. Our analyses, which simultaneously evaluated the effects of age, sex, Allergy Index and smoking history on logtotal IgE levels, did not support other studies which concluded that smoking significantly increases total serum IgE l
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