The importance of specific IgE antibodies in the epidemiology of allergic rhinitis and asthma (ECAP survey): part four. The relationship between the concentration of specific IgE antibodies in serum and types of asthma

Andrzej Namysłowski; Agnieszka Lipiec; Wojciech Zieliński; Filip Raciborski; Edyta Krzych-Fałta; Krzysztof Samoliński; Anna Szylling; Bolesław Samoliński

doi:10.5114/ada.2023.130287

The importance of specific IgE antibodies in the epidemiology of allergic rhinitis and asthma (ECAP survey): part four. The relationship between the concentration of specific IgE antibodies in serum and types of asthma

Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2023 Oct;40(5):611-616. doi: 10.5114/ada.2023.130287. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Authors

Andrzej Namysłowski¹, Agnieszka Lipiec¹, Wojciech Zieliński^{1

2}, Filip Raciborski¹, Edyta Krzych-Fałta¹, Krzysztof Samoliński³, Anna Szylling⁴, Bolesław Samoliński¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of the Prevention of Environmental Hazards, Allergology and Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
² Department of Econometrics and Statistics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
³ Department of Emergency Medical Services, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
⁴ Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology of the Central Clinical Hospital, Warsaw, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction: Specific immunoglobulins E (sIgE) are important parameters for the estimation of severity of allergic diseases.

Aim: To determine the relationship between the concentration of specific IgE antibodies in serum and types of asthma.

Material and methods: The concentration of sIgE antibodies against allergens Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat dander, timothy grass, and Alternaria alternata were determined in the serum of 4077 respondents randomly selected from 8 regions (ECAP study). The positive results of sIgE (≥ 0.35 IU/ml or ≥ 0.7 IU/ml) were correlated to clinical diagnosis (types of asthma, skin-prick tests).

Results: sIgE antibodies against any allergen were detected in 9.9% (classes 1-6)/7.6% (classes 2-6) of healthy respondents. Comparing sIgE antibodies of respondents with intermittent asthma to sIgE antibodies of respondents with persistent asthma, no statistically significant differences were identified. Relating to allergens of D. pteronyssinus, cat dander, and A. alternata, sIgE antibodies were more frequently detected in respondents with atopic asthma and a negative skin-prick test as compared to healthy respondents with a negative skin-prick test (p < 0.005 to p < 0.001). Relating to allergens of D. pteronyssinus, cat dander, and timothy grass, sIgE antibodies were more frequently detected in respondents with atopic asthma and a weakly positive skin-prick test as compared to healthy respondents with weakly positive skin-prick test (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Regarding subjects with a negative or weakly positive skin test, when sIgE antibodies to the same allergen are detected, asthma is much more likely to occur.

Keywords: ECAP; asthma; skin prick test; specific immunoglobulins E.