Total and specific IgE (house dust mite and intestinal helminths) in asthmatics and controls from Gondar, Ethiopia

Background The role, if any, of parasitosis in the development of asthma re mains incompletely understood; both 'protective' and 'predictive' associati ons have been reported. We report a study which examined immunoglobulin (Ig ) E responses to two common helminths in asthmatics Living in Ethiopia. Objective To compare the frequencies of specific IgE antibodies to Ascaris and Necator species and to Der p 1 among 84 adult asthmatics and a referent group of nonasthmatics. Methods A case-control analysis. Results Total IgE levels were not different between the two groups. The pre sence of specific IgE to Der p 1 was strongly associated with asthma (P = 0 .001). Raised levels of Ascaris-(P = 0.010) and Necator-(P = 0.001) specifi c IgE antibodies were more common among referents; there were no associatio ns between specific IgE production to Der p 1 and either of the two parasit es. Conclusion These findings confirm the association between Der p 1 sensitiza tion and asthma among urban, adult Ethiopians. While they also indicate a n egative relationship with two indicators of helminth infestation it appears that this is not mediated through the immunological response to common aer oallergens.