Study of some factors associated with high-risk asthma in children

Aim of the study: To determine the association of high-risk asthma with allergy-related parameters (serum total and specific levels of IgE, eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage) and pulmonary functions in children.Subjects and methods: Fifty children with atopic asthma were enrolled in this study. Chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests, eosinophil count, eosinophil percentage, total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum IgE levels specific to 9 allergens were measured.Results: Out of the 50 participants (20 belonged to high-risk and 30 to low-risk groups). There were no significant association in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR %) and forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) values between the two groups, whereas forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF 25–75%) shows a significant association with high-risk asthma. There was a significant association between total serum IgE level and high-risk asthma but eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage showed a nonsignificant association. Serum levels of IgE specific to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, cat dander, and dog dander were significantly associated with high-risk asthma but antigens from other allergen (including cockroach, egg white, and milk) showed a nonsignificant association. Serum levels of IgE specific to Aspergillus fumigatus and fish were negative in both groups.Conclusion: Children with higher serum levels of IgE specific to D. pteronyssinus, D. farina, cat dander and dog dander antigens, total serum IgE levels, and lower FEF 25–75% values belong to the high-risk asthma group