Abstract
Background: Family studies suggest that asthma has an increased familial occurrence, but the hypothesis of a genetic predisposition to IgE response and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) on the expression of nonatopic asthma is controversial. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate familial predisposition to IgE response and BHR on expression of nonatopic asthma. Methods: One hundred four parents of nonatopic asthmatic children, 154 parents of atopic asthmatic children, 78 parents of atopic nonasthmatic control children, and 80 parents of nonatopic control children provided questionnaire data and underwent allergy skin prick tests with 10 inhalant allergens and methacholine bronchial provocation tests. Total serum IgE levels were determined in 352 parents (134 with atopic asthmatic children, 87 with nonatopic asthmatic children, 65 with atopic control children, and 66 with nonatopic control children). Results: Prevalence of asthma, based on questionnaire data and on BHR to methacholine, was higher among parents of nonatopic asthmatic children (10.6%) and atopic asthmatic children (9.1%) than among those of nonatopic control children (1.3%). BHR to methacholine was higher among parents of nonatopic asthmatic children (19.2%) and atopic asthmatic children (16.2%) than among those of atopic and nonatopic control children (5.1% and 1.3%, respectively). The percentage of positive skin test responses to 10 inhalant allergens was higher among parents of atopic asthmatic children (43.9%), nonatopic asthmatic children (39.4%), and atopic control children (38.5%) than among those of nonatopic control children (23.7%). Geometric means (IU/mL ± SEM) of total serum IgE were higher among parents of atopic and nonatopic control children than among those of nonatopic control children (2.11 ± 0.05 vs 2.20 ± 0.06 vs 2.09 ± 0.07 vs 1.92 ± 0.06). Conclusion: Nonatopic asthma runs in families. The prevalence of positive skin test responses to inhalant allergens, BHR to methacholine, and total serum IgE levels is higher among the parents of nonatopic and atopic asthmatic children than among those of nonatopic control children. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:311-6.)
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