EXERCISE-INDUCED BRONCHOSPASM (EIB) IN RELATION TO SEASONAL AND PERENNIAL SPECIFIC IGE IN YOUNG-ADULTS

We investigated the relationship between exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) and specific IgEs for seasonal (S-IgE) and perennial (P-IgE) al lergens. The study, outside the main pollen season, was conducted on 2 89 20-year-old soldiers, who completed a self-administered questionnai re. A total of 289 subjects had S-IgE and P-IgE measured. The populati on was divided into subjects with (n = 166) and without (n = 123) hist ory of atopic diseases (HAD). Twenty-three of 289 subjects (8%) had as thma, 70/289 (24%) allergic rhinitis, and 92/289 (32%) atopic siblings . Measured EIB was found in 17/289 subjects (6%). They had significant ly higher levels of S-IgE and P-IgE than those without measured EIB (r espectively, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The odds ratios of having EIB wer e significantly increased in the entire population in relationship wit h an increase in both S-IgE and P-IgE (chi-square test for trend = 9.4 and 12.7, P < 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). Interestingly, this hig hly significant relationship remained true when considering only the n o HAD group (chi-square test = 7.4 and 8.8, P < 0.006 and 0.003, respe ctively). Outside the pollen season, EIB was highly related to the lev el of both specific seasonal and perennial IgEs in the total populatio n and in the subjects without HAD. This suggests that even in young ad ults who have been asymptomatic throughout their life EIB appears to b e closely linked to seasonal or perennial allergic diathesis as measur ed by specific IgEs.