Clinical study of serum immunoglobulin E, immunoglobulin G4 and leukotriene B4 levels in children with acute asthma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E, IgG4 and leukotriene B4 changes in children with acute asthma. Methods Totally 316 children aged 6 months to 15 years were enrolled and evaluated for the study.Asthma group consisted of 107 patients with acute bronchospasm and histories of recurrent asthma; bronchopneumonia group consisted of 109 patients with bronchopneumonia; and 100 healthy children were assigned as controls.Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups: infants, preschool children and children aged ≥ 7 years.Serum IgE, IgG4 and leukotriene B4 concentrations were determined.The test between 2 groups comparing was performed and compared by the statistical analysis. Results A significant increase in serum IgE levels were observed at all ages in asthma group compared with bronchopneumonia group and control group, respectively, serum IgE levels were also significantly higher in bronchopneumonia group compared with control group (F=60.69, 559.22, P infants > preschool children(F=87.14, P<0.001). Serum IgG4 and leukotriene B4 levels were significantly increased in asthma group and bronchopneumonia group compared with control group, and also in bronchopneumonia group compared with the asthma group (F=97.45, 100.74, P<0.001). However, no significant changes were found among different ages in asthma group. Conclusions The study suggests that infants and schoolchildren with asthma have higher allergic sensitivity.Serum IgG4 should be considered as a protective other than allergic antibody, and enhanced serum leukotriene B4 levels observed in children with acute asthma might be induced by infectious responses. Key words: Asthma; Child; Serum; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G4; Leukotriene B4