Gamma immunoglobulin E (IgE) is associated with allergic reactions but has not been described as being activated after sepsis. This study aimed at detecting the prognostic value of plasma IgE level in sepsis progression in the emergency department (ED).

Plasma IgE and related cytokines levels were measured on enrollment, and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, and Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score were calculated on ED admission. A 28-day follow-up was performed for all patients.

A total of 480 patients were consecutively enrolled in this study. The results revealed that nonsurvivors were in a more severe critical state, with reflected by higher IgE level and higher scoring systems (P<.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IgE level was independent predictor of severe sepsis (odds ratio, 1.034; 95% confidence interval, 1.023-1.044; P<.001) and 28-day mortality (odds ratio, 1.038; 95% confidence interval, 1.027-1.053; P<.001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis showed that IgE was a useful parameter in prognosis of severe sepsis (AUC was 0.830; cutoff value was 303.08μg/L) and 28-day mortality (AUC was 0.700; cutoff value was 299.96μg/L), Importantly, the AUC of combination of IgE and Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score performed for the most significant prognostic ability than each parameter, respectively, in this cohort (P<.001).

The results of this study indicate that septic patients with higher IgE level present with higher risk of mortality, and a combination of IgE level with scoring systems significantly increased the predictive accuracy for severe sepsis and 28-day mortality.