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Objectives:
To evaluate the
association between
serum total IgE
levels and disease
severity in adult
patients with
persistent allergic
asthma and to
explore the main
predictors of IgE
levels.
Methods: We
performed a
multicenter,
retrospective,
observational study
including adult
patients diagnosed
≥1 year previously
with persistent
allergic asthma who
were positive to ≥1
allergen. Patients
also had serum total
IgE and spirometry
results available
from the previous 12
months. Inclusion
was stratified by
asthma severity
according to the
GEMA 2009 criteria.
Results: We
included 383
patients with
allergic asthma (129
mild, 82 moderate,
and 172 severe).
Mean (SD) age was 38
(15), 46 (16), and
45 (15) years,
respectively (P<0.001).
Serum total IgE
levels varied
markedly
(coefficient of
variation, 147%). No
association was
observed with forced
expiratory volume in
1 second (FEV1) or
asthma severity:
mean (SD)/median (IQR)
of 403 (616)/214
(108-409), 361
(516)/204 (126-361),
and 473 (676)/211
(98-545) IU/mL in
the mild, moderate,
and severe
subgroups,
respectively (P=.951).
The severe subgroup
had a higher
percentage of
patients with >400
IU/mL (36% vs 26.4%
[mild] and 18.3%
[moderate], P=.010).
In a multivariate
multiple regression
model, the
independent
predictors of higher
IgE were younger age
(P=.004),
sensitization to ≥2
allergens (P=.009),
male gender (P=.025),
and family history
of asthma (P=.122).
Conclusion:
Serum total IgE
levels in adult
patients with
persistent allergic
asthma were high
(two-thirds with
levels >150 IU/mL)
and extremely
variable. We did not
find a significant
association between
serum total IgE
levels and asthma
severity or airflow
limitation, except
for a higher
percentage of
patients with IgE
>400 IU/mL in the
severe subgroup.
Key words:
IgE. Adult asthma.
Asthma severity |
