All issues > Volume 38(9); 1995

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1995;38(9):1262-1269. Published online September 15, 1995.

Relation between Airway Responsiveness and Serum IgE in Children with History of Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, and Atopic Dermatitis

Su- Jin SJ Park¹, Ki-Hyun KH Chung¹, Wan-Seob WS Kim¹, Kang-Seo KS Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Presbyterian Medical Center, Chon Ju, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Asthma is known to be related to serum IgE levels. But it is not ascertained whether there is a relation between serum IgE levels and airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine challenge. For this reason we studied the relation between the serum IgE levels and airway hyperresponsiveness or responsiveness in regard to asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.
Methods
: The subject of this study were students arbitrarily enrolled from two boys?and two girls?middle schools respectively in Chon-ju city, born between January 1,1980 and December 31,1980 at the age of thirteen years. According to a questionnair, one group were 110 children with the history of asthma or allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis. The other group were 86 asymptomatic children (43 boys, 43 girls) without allergy history. We measured the airway hyperresponsiveness or responsiveness of the above mentioned children with spirometer by performing methacholine inhalation challenge. Methacholine concentrations were carried out in 10-fold increment, 0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 25mg/ml. The serum IgE levels were measured by the PRIST technique.
Results
: 1) Geometric mean of the serum IgE were respectively 112.21U/ml in asthma, 77.6IU/ml in allergic rhinitis and 107.9IU/ml in atopic dermatitis. And their geometric mean were increased significantly more than 36.6IU/ml in control group (p<0.0001). 2) In case of allergy, the serum IgE was observed to have a close relation with the airway hyperresponsiveness or responsiveness to methacholine(p<0.01). The airway hyperresponsiveness or responsiveness was not noted when the serum IgE was under 35.4IU/ml. But we could see that the airway hyperresponsiveness or responsiveness to methacholine took place in case of the increase of the serum IgE levels. In case that the serum IgE was over 78.4IU/ml (i.e. serum IgE in control group was over 75 percentile) the airway hyperresponsiveness and airway responsiveness were occurred 43% in asthma, 7% in allergic rhinitis and 21% in atopic dermatitis. 3) The airway hyperresponsiveness and airway responsiveness were observed in 36% of the patients with asthma. And the airway responsiveness was noted among a few of patients with allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis, which was statistically insignificant. 4) No airway responsiveness or hyperresponsiveness was observed in control group.
Conclusion
: Asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were closely related to the increased serum IgE. But the airway hyperresponsiveness and airway responsiveness in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were developed by complex roles of several factors.

Keywords :Airway responsiveness, IgE