Serum IgE levels as a marker of disease activity in childhood asthma - A cross sectional study

Bronchial asthma is a multifarious chronic disease characterized by uneven airflow obstruction and airway hyper responsiveness. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays an important role in mediating the allergic response in bronchial asthma. To this purpose we have evaluated serum IgE levels as a marker of disease activity in childhood asthma in children visiting to tertiary care hospital. This prospective cross sectional study was carried on pediatric age group patients attending both OPD and inpatients for 12 months in a tertiary care hospital, Telangana. Serum IgE levels estimation done for all children with bronchial asthma. All the patients’ serum IgE estimation was done by qualitative determination of concentration of test analytes in human serum by chemiluminescent immune assay. Data was analyzed statistically and expressed appropriately. Among the total 20 cases of bronchial asthma, 75% of the children had elevated serum IgE levels and 40% of bronchial asthma children with family history of elevated serum IgE levels. Among the total 20 cases of control children, 6 children had elevated serum IgE levels; all these children had worm infestation with positive stool test. Children with high levels of serum IgE levels and family history had co-morbid condition and pronged duration of asthma. Values of IgE levels could be useful to contribute for diagnosis of allergic diseases like asthma. High IgE levels can be utilized for long term prognosis and severity of the disease process.