Levels of house dust mite-specific IgE and cockroach-specific IgE and their association with lower pulmonary function in Taiwanese children.
OBJECTIVE
Sensitization to an aeroallergen is known to diminish pulmonary function in young children and adults; however, it remains unclear whether it produces similar effects in adolescents. This study, therefore, examined the relationship between serum allergen-specific IgE levels and pulmonary function in adolescents.


METHODS
Middle-school children were invited for a physician's evaluation and pulmonary function test when not experiencing an asthma attack and for the determination of serum levels of specific IgE to common allergens.


METHODS
National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan.


METHODS
Middle-school children in southern Taiwan, who had completed both a nationally administered Chinese version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and a pulmonary function test in October 1996.


RESULTS
Forty-two then currently asthmatic children, 38 children with asthma in remission (no reported attack for > 12 months), and 69 children without asthma completed the study. Children with asthma had a significantly lower adjusted forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF(25-75%)) and FEV(1)/FVC than children without asthma. A greater percentage of children with asthma were more sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p), Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), and German cockroach but not cat dander or dog dander. Children with asthma with Der f-specific IgE > 100 IU/mL, or cockroach-specific IgE > 0.7 IU/mL showed lower pulmonary function. No such association was found in children without asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that sensitization to Der f and German cockroach was a critical factor for the lower pulmonary function observed in middle-school children with asthma.
Lin
Ying-Chu
YC
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Su
Huey-Jen
HJ
Hsiue
Tzuen-Ren
TR
Lee
Cheng-Hung
CH
Chen
Chang-Wen
CW
Guo
Yueliang Leon
YL
D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000276:immunology; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E