A Descriptive Study on Serum IgE and Absolute Eosinophil Count in Children with Bronchial Asthma Attending the Paediatric Department of a Medical College in Central Kerala

BACKGROUND Bronchial asthma is a major public health concern especially in the paediatric population. An elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) level is considered as an objective marker of allergy. Because IgE is a mediator of allergic response, quantitative measurement of IgE together with other clinical markers, can provide useful information for the differentiation between atopic and non-atopic diseases. In this study, we wanted to determine serum IgE and absolute eosinophil count (AEC) levels and correlate both levels with severity of asthma in children in the age group of 2 - 15 years admitted in the paediatric department. METHODS This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. After taking the informed consent from the parent or guardian, relevant information on asthmatic symptoms and severity, other associated manifestations, precipitating factors, and family history of asthma were recorded in a pre-designed proforma. A total of 65 children (age group 2 – 15 years old) with bronchial asthma were studied. Investigations such as hemogram and serum IgE levels were determined. Asthma severity was assessed according to global initiative for asthma (GINA) guidelines. RESULTS Among 65 children, 69.2 % were boys. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that total IgE cut-off concentration of 168 IU/ml, distinguishes children with intermittent asthma from those with mild persistent disease. IgE cut-off concentration of 989 IU/ml distinguishes mild persistent from those with moderate persistent asthma. Both showed adequate or good diagnostic efficacy. Cut off value of 168 IU/ml may prove useful in practice, indicating that 75 % of children in intermittent group will have serum concentration of total IgE < 168 IU/ml. No association was observed between AEC and increasing severity of asthma. Only atopic dermatitis with asthma showed increasing trend of IgE levels. CONCLUSIONS Asthmatic children with higher asthma severity have a higher serum total IgE concentration (168 IU/ml and 989 IU/ml are the cut off values for differentiating intermittent from mild persistent and mild persistent from moderate persistent). KEYWORDS Serum IgE, Absolute Eosinophil Count, Childhood Asthma, Asthma Severity