Abstract
In asthmatic patients, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma, and studies are in progress on the characteristics of specific IgE in airways. We measured specific IgE in sputum via induced sputum and evaluated the clinical characteristics of specific IgE in sputum in 51 children who visited Kyungpook National University Children's Hospital from October 2015 to March 2017 with symptoms of chronic cough, dyspnea, and/or wheezy breathing sounds. We examined sputum total IgE and specific IgE in sputum to Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and Alternaria. We also examined total IgE, specific IgE in serum, eosinophil counts, eosinophil cationic protein, and pulmonary function tests. There was a positive correlation between specific IgE in sputum and in serum to D. farinae (r = 0.587, P < 0.001) and to D. pteronyssinus (r = 0.587, P < 0.001). The skin prick test revealed significantly higher levels of specific IgE in sputum to D. pteronyssinus in the skin prick test-positive group than in the skin prick test-negative group (P = 0.020). There was no correlation between specific IgE in sputum to house dust mites (HDMs) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity, or 20% fall in FEV1. Our cutoff point of specific IgE in sputum to D. farinae was 0.095 IU/mL and to D. pteronyssinus was 0.105 IU/mL. Based on our specific IgE in sputum cutoff points, 3 patients had local sensitization to HDMs in airways without systemic allergy. We reported correlations between specific IgE in sputum and in serum and proposed evidence for local allergic sensitization in airways in pediatric patients.
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