Poster Abstracts

Abstract

Background: Total serum IgE level as a marker of allergic inflammation is associated with severity of the asthma, and is targeted for treatment of it. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between total serum IgE levels with response to routine drug treatment in acute asthma. Materials and methods: The study was carried out in 162 subjects with acute asthma. Total IgE serum, peripheral blood cell and eosinophils counts were measured. Management in all of the patients was adjusted according to the level of asthma severity, and spirometry was performed before and 2 weeks after treatment. The relationships between baseline and percentage changes of FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FVC (forced vital capacity), FEF25-75% (forced expiratory flow at 25 to 75% of vital capacity), peripheral white blood cell and eosinophils counts with asthma with high IgE levels (≥100 IU/ml) to those of patients with low IgE levels (<100 IU/ml) were studied cross-sectionally. Results: No relationship between percentage changes of FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75%, white blood cell count, and peripheral blood eosinophil; with high and low level of total serum IgE was seen (p = 0.89; 0.74; 0.68; 0.72; 0.44; respectively). No significant relationships between baseline predicted of FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75% among asthma with high and low levels of total serum IgE was observed (p = 0.79; 0.69; 0.45; respectively). Conclusion: On the basis of these findings we conclude that the level of total serum IgE levels, peripheral white blood cell counts and eosinophils percent cannot be used to predict the response to anti-asthmatic drugs. Keywords: Asthma, predicting response; therapy; total serum IgE Introduction: Asthma is a condition characterized by variability in airflow obstruction, fluctuation of symptoms, and changes in the level of bronchial responsiveness and airway inflammation. Elevated serum IgE level as a marker of allergic inflammation and atopy contribute to asthma, and is considered as a potent prediction for the development of asthma. In patients with higher IgE, had a greater increase in PC20 when administered inhaler corticosteroids than those with lower IgE levels (1). Recently Moin et al. reported that in children, higher IgE levels lower the probability of hospitalization during asthmatic attack (2). It is unknown, in asthma, whether patients who do not respond well to one medication might respond to the other medication. In children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma, a favourable response to inhaler corticosteroid was associated with higher levels of exhaled nitric oxide, total eosinophils counts, levels of serum IgE and other markers of allergic inflammation (3). Moreover, Cai et al. in a study on patients with stable mild to moderate asthma that were treated with montelukast in four-week concluded that there was not significant correlation between the clinical response and serum IgE levels (4). The percentage of patients with asthma and airway responsiveness in general population with higher IgE levels ...