Serum IgD levels in children with atopic asthma. A longitudinal study.
BACKGROUND
Serum IgD and IgE levels were measured in children with atopic asthma and in control Group in order to determine their relationship with clinical status.


METHODS
Samples of venous blood (of 5 cc) were drawn from 25 asthmatic children (Group A) and 25 healthy children (Group B) at the moment of first diagnosis (T0), after 6 months (T180) and after 18 months (T540). To measure IgD, an ELISA assay based on the  sandwich  principle was used.


RESULTS
At T0, IgD were significantly higher in Group A (182.7 5+/-88.18 IU/ml) in comparison with Group B (69.58+/-4.93 IU/ml, p<0.0001); IgD levels decreased in Group A at T540.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, a significant increase of IgD levels observed in children at first signs of asthma and the following normalization of these same levels after 18 months, may represent a non specific response or an attempt of the organism to block asthma, favouring therefore immunologic tolerance.
Salpietro
D C
DC
Servizio di Genetica Medica, Istituto di Pediatria Medica Preventiva e Sociale, Università degli Studi, Messina, Italy.
Masaracchio
A
A
Turiaco
A
A
Di Bella
M R
MR
Toscano
V
V
Merlino
M V
MV
D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000097:blood*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D000485:Allergens; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007073:Immunoglobulin E