ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The study was performed to investigate the association and autumnal exacerbation of asthma and house dust mites which has been suggested as one of the factors contributing to the seasonal epidemics of asthma. We measured Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) specific IgE levels of patients who had experienced severe exacerbation during the autumn season and compared with the patients who had not. METHODS: The medical records of patients with asthma, aged from 3 to 15 years, were reviewed and classified into two groups; (1) those with acute severe exacerbation (cases hospitalized or treated at emergency room, ER), (2) those without severe exacerbation (cases treated in outpatient clinic). Each groups were divided into two subgroups according to season of their visit for treatment as autumn and other seasons except for autumn. The Der p specific IgE level was determined by using the UniCAP system. RESULTS: Both mean Der p specific IgE (43.5+/-39.2 kU/L) and total IgE (643.1+/-815.3 kU/L) levels of patients hospitalized or treated at the ER during the autumn were significantly higher than those from the following two groups; outpatients during the autumn (26.6+/-32.5 kU/L, 402.2+/-411.6 kU/L) and patients hospitalized or treated at ER during seasons other than the autumn (26.4+/-36.0 kU/L, 349.5+/-325.4 kU/L). CONCLUSION: Higher Der p specific IgE level in children with asthma was associated with autumnal exacerbation of asthma, which suggests those patients may be put at higher risk of exacerbation during the autumn.