J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.
1998 Jun;18(2):299-307.
Sputum induction method for studying total IgE levels in atopics asthamtic
patients
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: IgE antibodies have been considered to play an important role in the
pathogenesis of atapic asthma. However, there have been only few studies on the role
of IgE in airway secretion in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. This might be
partly due to difficulty in sampling of airway seceretion from asthmatic patients.
Recently, sputum induction method by inhalation of nebulized hypertonic saline was
developed, and proved to be valid and useful method for obtaining airway secretion
from asthmatic patients for studying airway inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
AND METHOD: To evaluate the usefulness of sputum induction method for studying
IgE antibodies in airway secretion from atopic asthmatic patients, total IgE levels in
induced sputum from 54 atopic asthmatics were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay(ELISA) and tried to find an association with sputum eosinophilia.
RESULT: Total IgE levels in induced sputum were significantly higher in atopic asthmatic
patients(1.27+82.066 IU/ml) than in controls(0.203+0.291 IUgmP)(p<0.05). In atopic
asthmatic patients, total IgE levels in induced sputum were not significantly different
between patients with and without sputum eosinophilia(>5% of 200 counted leukocytes).
There was a significant correlation of total IgE levels between induced sputum and serum
in atopic asthmatic patients(r=0.60, p<0.05). Total IgE levels in induced
sputum(1.278+ 2.066) were significantly higher than saliva sample(0.504 + 1.111 IU/ml)
from atopic asthmatic patients(p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that total IgE levels are increased in the induced
sputum of atopic asthmat,ic patients and sputum induction method is a useful tool for
studying IgE antibodies in airway secretion from asthmatic patients.