28-Year-Old Patient with Elevated Serum IgE Levels and Multiple Refractory Epidural and Paravertebral Abscesses. Clinical manifestation of a Job's Syndrome?

Background: The hyper-IgE syndrome is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent staphylococcal infections and high levels of serum IgE.

Methods: The case of a 28-year-old man with epidural and paravertebral abscesses and a markedly elevated serum IgE level of 2,609 U/ml is reported. There was no allergic diathesis, nor had the patient a history of other diseases, which might explain the high serum IgE level. In a blood culture, Staphylococcus aureus was detected. Since early childhood, the patient has suffered from recurrent skin infections.

Conclusions: The presented study case discusses the diagnosis of a Job's syndrome in this patient and reviews previously published cases. It also summarizes the current knowledge about pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria of this rare syndrome.