Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2009 Mar;19(1):47-55.

Relationship of Indoor Aeroallergen Specific IgE with Total IgE and Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Children with Atopic Asthma

• Woo SI
• Lim JS
• Hahn YS

Abstract

PURPOSE
We assessed the relationship of indoor aeroallergen specific IgE levels with total IgE level, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and lung function in children with atopic asthma.
METHODS
Two hundred twenty-eight children with atopic asthma in Cheongju area were studied. Sera were assayed for total IgE and specific IgE antibodies to important indoor allergens including Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), Alternaria, cats, dogs, and cockroaches. One hundred eighty children sensitized to house dust mites (HDMs) were evaluated for %FEV1 and methacholine PC20.
RESULTS
Serum specific IgE to HDMs presented the highest prevalence (90.0% for Der p and 92.7% for Der f), followed by specific IgE to Alternaria (21.6%). A contribution of > 10% of the total was only common for IgE antibody to Der p or Der f. The level of specific IgE to Der p (r=0.677, P<00.001) or Der f (r=0.657, P<00.001) was significantly correlated with total IgE level. Higher level of Der f-specific IgE was associated with higher incidence of AHR and FEV1 decline.
CONCLUSION
Concentration of specific IgE antibody produced to HDMs provides an explanation for the higher total IgE levels found in a major portion of children with atopic asthma and has a close relationship with AHR and lung function.

Keyword

Asthma; Child; Allergens; Immunoglobulin E

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Alternaria
Animals
Antibodies
Asthma
Cats
Child
Cockroaches
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Dogs
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Incidence
Lung
Methacholine Chloride
Prevalence
Pyroglyphidae
Allergens
Antibodies
Immunoglobulin E
Methacholine Chloride