title: Association of Specific Immunoglobulin E to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin with Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Asthma Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization to staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) has been recently considered to be related to allergic disease, including asthma. Despite studies on specific IgE (sIgE) to SE and its relationship to asthma diagnosis and severity, the association of sIgE to SE with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 81 asthma patients admitted to the Severance Hospital in Korea from March 1, 2013, to February 28, 2015 and retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of the enrolled subjects. The serum levels of sIgE to SE (A/B) of all subjects was measured using the ImmunoCAP 250 (Phadia) system with SE-sIgE positive defined as >0.10 kU/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SE-sIgE level was not significantly correlated with asthma severity (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], FEV1/forced vital capacity, sputum eosinophils, and serum eosinophils), whereas the SE-sIgE level in patients with positive AHR (mean±standard error of the mean, 0.606±0.273 kU/mL) was significantly higher than that in patients with negative AHR (0.062±0.015 kU/mL, p=0.034). In regression analysis, SE sensitization (sIgE to SE ≥0.010 kU/mL) was a significant risk factor for AHR, after adjustment for age, sex, FEV1, and sputum eosinophils (odds ratio, 7.090; 95% confidence interval, 1.180-42.600; p=0.032). Prevalence of SE sensitization was higher in patients with allergic rhinitis and non-atopic asthma patients, as compared to patients without allergic rhinitis and atopic asthma patients, respectively, but without statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SE sensitization is significantly associated with AHR.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seong Han
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seo Yeon
authors: SY
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jihong
authors: J
authors: You
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang Bae
authors: SB
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kunkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: You
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yoon Soo
authors: YS
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hyung Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Chul Min
authors: CM
authors: Ahn
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min Kwang
authors: MK
authors: Byun
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hye Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Park
authors: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jung-Won
authors: JW
authors: Park
keywords: Asthma; Enterotoxins; Immunoglobulin E; Staphylococcus