Title: Role of Vitamin D and IgE in bronchial asthma in children in Eastern India

Authors: Sk. Rafikul Rahaman, Kripasindhu Chatterjee, Manuprita Sharma, Bidhan Ray, Pradip Kumar Agrawal, Vineet Kumar Khemka

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.120

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation. The detrimental effects of vitamin D deficiency in pediatrics have become increasingly apparent and extend beyond skeletal health. 

Aims & Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the level of vitamin D and immunoglobulin E (IgE) in asthmatic patients of paediatric ages during exacerbation and after remission.

Patients and Methods: This study was carried out on 56 bronchial asthma children of 4 to 14 years of age group attending the ‘Pediatric outpatient department’ of ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences, Haldia, with bronchial asthma diagnosed and classified according to Global Initiative for Asthma 2016 and 48 healthy age and sex matched individuals. Serum vitamin D and IgE were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for all participants. 

Results: Serum IgE level was found significantly higher among bronchial asthma subjects with respect to controls (443.2 ± 237.3 versus 139.8 ± 82.06 IU/ml; P < 0.001). Moreover, serum 25 OH vitamin D levels were lower in bronchial asthma cases as compared to controls and were statistically significant (15.83 ± 7.44 versus 23.14 ± 8.29 ng/ml; P < 0.001). Serum vitamin D level showed an inverse correlation with IgE (r = -0.77; P < 0.0001) level among bronchial asthma subjects, but no significant correlation was observed in controls (r = 0.077; P = 0.689).

Conclusion: Despite these limitations it has been observed that serum vitamin D levels were lower and IgE levels were higher in patients suffering from bronchial asthma. A clear strong inverse correlation between vitamin D and Ig E also indicates a strong relationship in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Keywords: Bronchial asthma, Immunoglobulin E, Vitamin D, Children.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Sk. Rafikul Rahaman

Associate Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics, ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research

Haldia, West Bengal – 721645, India

Ph: +91- 9002311800 (M), Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.