Relation between airway responsiveness and serum IgE in children with asthma and in apparently normal children

Article Abstract:

Allergic responses arise from the action of a class of antibody called immunoglobulin E or IgE. Like all antibodies, IgE reacts with specific antigen molecules. However, when an IgE antibody binds to its specific antigen, it initiates a sequence of events that culminate in the familiar symptoms of allergy. Allergic responses have been identified in many, but not all, patients with asthma. Generally, this allergy is identified by using skin tests to directly demonstrate allergic hypersensitivity to substances such as pollen, house dust, or pet dander. Some patients are negative on these tests of allergy, and nonetheless have hyper-responsive airways which can constrict, causing the wheezing and difficulty breathing that are characteristic of asthma. In the past, this condition has been called non-allergic asthma. However, in recent years, researchers have called into question the validity of dividing asthma into allergic and non-allergic types. Airway hyperresponsiveness can be demonstrated by the inhalation of the substance methacholine. In asthmatic patients the airways constrict after the methacholine challenge. However, this test is not a diagnostic tool, since the airways of some subjects with no history of asthma also constrict in response to this challenge. A study was conducted to compare airway responses to the amount of IgE measured in the blood of 562 children. As expected, there was a strong correlation between asthma and amount of IgE, and no child with low IgE had asthma. A strong correlation was also found between airway hyperresponsiveness and IgE in the blood. When children with diagnosed asthma were excluded from the analysis, the correlation between airway hyperresponsiveness and IgE remained significant. These results suggest that the constricting response of the airways may be the result of an underlying allergic response involving IgE, even in those patients for whom no allergy is evident and who do not have asthma. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Genetic aspects, Allergy, Identification and classification, Immunoglobulin E, Airway (Medicine), Airway, Allergic reaction

---

Asthma in children

Article Abstract:

Different drugs may be used to treat children with asthma as a result of better understanding of the disease. Individuals with more severe asthma may have greater airway responsiveness, or narrowing of airways in response to different substances or physical factors such as exercise. Airway responsiveness may also increase in response to different environmental factors. Airway inflammation may occur in all patients with asthma, and it may increase airway responsiveness. The number of deaths from asthma has increased, despite better understanding of the disease. Use of certain drugs to treat childhood asthma is changing as a result of new information about the disease, and the safety of others is being questioned. Different drugs may be used to treat children with asthma depending on their age and the severity of their disease. Children with asthma may also benefit from avoidance of environmental hazards, immunotherapy and education about the disease.

Asthma in children, Childhood asthma

---

Asthma disease management

Article Abstract:

Disease management programs could avoid many of the obstacles to good comprehensive care encountered with complex diseases such as asthma, but raises other concerns. Disease management is based on the theory that assessing the total cost of care, instead of each component separately, will improve health and ultimately save money. While this approach can facilitate the identification of target patients and the distribution of information, it has not yet been shown to actually reduce costs. Problems with conflicting treatment protocols could arise. Flexibility of the program is essential to provide quality care for all individuals.

Editorial, Analysis, Usage, Practice guidelines (Medicine), Medical case management

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Is business incompatible with health care? A different look at medical ethics
• Abstracts: A survey of antiemetic use in children with cancer. The Caring Program for Children: the Michigan experience
• Abstracts: A national agenda for research on aging. Research and informed consent in Africa - another look
• Abstracts: Congenital afibrinogenaemia and successful pregnancy outcome. Case report. Prenatal screening for neural tube defects: a choice for all
• Abstracts: Later recurrence and longer survival among obese patients with renal cell carcinoma. part 2 Ten promises to Terry: towards a social marketing manifesto

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.