Anti-Staphylococcus aureus, anti-Streptococcus pneumoniae and anti-Moraxella catarrhalis specific IgE in asthmatic children.

The total serum IgE levels and the presence of anti-Staphylococcu aureus, anti-Streptococcus pneumoniae and anti-Moraxella catarrhalis specific IgE antibodies were studied in 34 asthmatic children (aged 1-12 years). Eleven of them also suffered also from subacute or chronic sinusitis. Total and specific IgE were determined by radioimmunoassay in solid phase. The total serum IgE levels were increased in 82.3% of the cases. It was observed that 73.5% of the children had detectable specific IgE antibodies to one or more bacteria. Anti-Streptococcus pneumoniae IgE and anti-Moraxella catarrhalis IgE were observed more frequently than anti-Staphylococcus aureus IgE antibodies. There was no correlation among these results. The percentage of cases with increased total serum IgE levels and detectable specific antibacterial IgE was higher in those children who did not have sinusitis. In this group anti-Streptococcus pneumoniae IgE was the most frequent finding. The detection of specific antibacterial IgE is not sufficient to explain the physiopathologic role of such antibodies in the children with asthma.