ABSTRACT
Objectives To explore the humoral immunologic mechanisms of the susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in asthmatic children. Methods Plasma samples were collected from 43 asthmatic and 20 non-asthmatic chil-dren. Anit-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PPS)-IgG concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results The mean concentrations of anti-PPS 14, 19A and 23F-IgG were signiifcantly higher in asthmatic children than in non-asthmatic children (P<0.05). The ratios of the asthmatic children who had anti-PPS 14, 19A and 23F-IgG concentrations higher than the protective antibody level (≥0.2 μg/ml ) were 100%for all the serotypes. Conclusions The immune responses of producing anti-PPS IgG to defense IPD were normal in asthmatic children. Asthmatic children may be more susceptive to pneumococcal infection or colonization than non-asthmatic children.