Relation between Airway Responsiveness and Serum IgE in Children with Asthma and in Apparently Normal Children

BACKGROUND: Although asthma diagnosed by a physician is known to be related to serum IgE levels, it is not known whether there is a relation between the level of IgE and airway hyperresponsiveness to a methacholine challenge. The characteristics of asymptomatic persons that predispose them to airway hyperresponsiveness are also unknown. METHODS: We studied the relation between the serum total IgE level and airway hyperresponsiveness in the …