title: IgE serum concentration against airborne fungi in children with respiratory allergies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate total and specific E immunoglobulin (IgE) antibody concentrations in underage subjects with respiratory allergic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a transversal-type study in 100 underage subjects between 4 and 14 years old, with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. Total and specific IgE were quantified for airborne fungi in the city of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Five distinct regions-North, South, Center, East and West-were selected so fungi could be collected monthly for 1 year. Twenty genera were identified. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Neurospora were selected for the preparation of sensitizing antigens from ELISA dishes. IgE total concentrations were estimated using the same method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IgE total serum concentration was increased in 97 % of the atopic subjects: 75 % of the subjects presented increased IgE anti-Aspergillus concentrations, 87 % presented IgE anti-Penicillium, 45 % presented IgE anti-Fusarium, and 46 % presented IgE anti-Neurospora.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atopic subjects presented simultaneous IgE total and specific elevations for the tested fungi, possibly due to polysensitization caused by the presence of fungi in all of the areas all year. However, determining the clinical significance of the results was not yet possible because most of the data were isolated variables.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate building of the Center for Life Sciences and Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Portuguese Avenue, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA CEP 65080-805 Brazil.
authors.forename: Geusa Felipa
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: de Barros Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child University Hospital, Street Barão of Itapary, 227, Center, São Luís, MA Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Maria Costa
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate building of the Center for Life Sciences and Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Portuguese Avenue, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA CEP 65080-805 Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate building of the Center for Life Sciences and Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Portuguese Avenue, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA CEP 65080-805 Brazil.
authors.forename: Walbert Edson Muniz
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate building of the Center for Life Sciences and Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Portuguese Avenue, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA CEP 65080-805 Brazil.
authors.forename: Ramon Moura
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate building of the Center for Life Sciences and Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Portuguese Avenue, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA CEP 65080-805 Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivone Garros
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate building of the Center for Life Sciences and Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Portuguese Avenue, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA CEP 65080-805 Brazil.
authors.forename: Graça Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Castro Viana
authors.affiliation: Universidade Mayor de Temuco, Valdivia, Chile.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zaror
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate building of the Center for Life Sciences and Health, Federal University of Maranhão, Portuguese Avenue, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, MA CEP 65080-805 Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria do Desterro
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2783-362X
authors.initials: Mdo D
authors.lastname: Soares Brandão Nascimento
keywords: Airborne fungi; IgE; Respiratory allergy