Original article
English
A.S.M. Giasuddin 1, G. Borysewicz 2, A. Basha 3
1-Department of Laboratory Medicine, Al Arab Medical University, Benghazi, S.P.L.A.J. 2-7th April Hospital, Ministry of Health, Benghazi, S.P.L.A.J. 3-Department of Medicine, Al Arab Medical University, Benghazi, S.P.L.A.J.
Garyounis Medical Journal Vol. 11, No. 1-2 . January 1988: 18-24
Abstract
The serum total IgE levels (IU/ml) in 38 Libyan patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and in 16 healthy individuals as control subjects (CS) were studied by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Out of the 38 BA patients (Group D), 17 were identified as intrinsic (Group C) and 21 as extrinsic (Group B) asthmatics. The mean IgE levels in these groups of BA patients were found to be significantly higher when compared with that of the control (Group A). (A vs B: 82 ± 53, 397±391, 0,01
0,001; A vs C: 82 ± 53, 158 ± 108, 0,02
0,01; A vs D: 82 ± 53, 290 ± 380, 0,02
0,01). The mean serum IgE level of group B was significantly higher than that of group C also (B vs C: 397± 392, 158 ± 108, 0,02
0,01). When the subjects were classified in relation to their individual IgE levels as normal (≤ mean ± SD: 135 IU/ml) and above normal (>135 IU/ml), it was observed that 25 out of 38, 9 out of 17 and 16 out of 21 of groups D, C and B, respectively, had identified themselves as above normal, compared to only 4 out of 16 of group A. Attempts were, therefore, made to explain asthmatic attacks in these patients as possibly due to IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation. On the other hand, 13 out of 38, 8 out of 17 and 5 out of 21 of groups D, C and B, respectively had normal serum IgE levels and yet they were asthmatic as compared to group A (12 out of 16 in group A, had IgE levels <1351U/ml). Therefore, asthmatic attacks in these patients could not be explained as due to IgE-mediated mechanisms. The various possibilities and prospects of new drug development are discussed. Keywords: Serum IgE Levels in Libyan Patients with Bronchial Asthma Link/DOI: