Total serum IgE levels in a large cohort of patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma
Authors: Borish, Larry1; Chipps, Bradley2; Deniz, Yamo3; Gujrathi, Sheila3; Zheng, Beiyao3; Dolan, Chantal M.3
Source: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 95, Number 3, September 2005 , pp. 247-253(7)
Publisher: American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
Abstract:
Background: Limited data are available on levels of IgE in large cohorts of patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. Objective: To examine IgE levels and disease in patients from The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens (TENOR) study. Methods: From January 2001 to October 2001, 4,923 patients were screened for inclusion in the study. Of these, 4,756 patients 6 years or older with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma were enrolled and completed a baseline study visit. Total serum IgE levels were measured at the baseline visit and are summarized by geometric means. Results: The mean total IgE level of the population is 106.6 IU/mL (95% confidence interval, 101.5-112.0 IU/mL). Children (6-12 years old) and adolescents (13-17 years old) have higher mean IgE levels than adults (
18 years old) (P < .001). Males have a higher mean IgE level than females (P < .001). IgE levels are higher among nonwhite patients than white patients (P < .001). Current smokers have higher IgE levels than past smokers or never smokers (P < .001). Among children, patients with severe asthma have a higher mean IgE level (280.2 IU/mL) than patients with moderate (145.8 IU/mL) or mild (137.8 IU/mL) asthma (P < .001). Among adults, patients with childhood-onset asthma have higher IgE levels (124.3 IU/mL [n = 1,348]) than patients with adult-onset asthma (65.7 IU/mL [n = 1,956]) (P < .001). Conclusion: In patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma from the TENOR study, higher total IgE levels were observed in males, children, smokers, nonwhite racial/ethnic groups, and adults with childhood-onset disease. In addition, IgE levels are associated with asthma severity among younger patients.
Document Type: Original article
Affiliations: 1: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. 2: Capitol Allergy and Respiratory Disease Center, Sacramento, California. 3: Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, California.

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