Atopy in Omani patients with asthma.

Objectives: To determine the range of serum IgE in healthy subjects and in asthmatic patients in Oman and to assess the degree of atopy in the asthmatic patients.

Method: Serum IgE and in vivo (the skin prick test) and in vitro (the ImmunoCAP test) allergen-specific IgE levels were measured in 44 patients with asthma. Control groups were 19 healthy subjects and 27 asymptomatic allergic subjects.

Occurence of autoantibodies in healthy Omani individuals.

Objectives: To investigate the occurence of various autoantibodies in the Omani population.

Method: Sera from 392 healthy Omani individuals comprising 183 pregnant women and 209 blood donors (183 men and 26 women) were investigated. Autoantibodies were detected using immunofluorescence, haemagglutination and latex agglutination techniques.