Farres Mohamed N, Shahin Rasha Y, Melek Nermine A, El-Kabarity Rania H, Arafa Naglaa A
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt.
Intern Med. 2011;50(3):205-11. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.4424. Epub 2011 Feb 1.
To compare serum folate levels between atopic asthmatics, non-atopic asthmatics, and healthy controls.
This case-control study included 60 asthmatics with at least one positive skin prick test (SPT) reaction (atopic asthma group), 60 asthmatics with negative SPT reactions (non-atopic asthma group), and 60 healthy controls with no history of asthma or other allergic diseases, and with negative SPT reactions. Serum folate and total IgE levels were measured in all subjects. In addition, lung functions were assessed by spirometry.
Serum folate levels were significantly lower among the atopic asthma group [9.1 (4.9, 12.1) ng/mL] as compared to the non-atopic asthma group [11.3 (7.5, 14.8) ng/mL] and the control group [12.0 (8.3, 15.1) ng/mL], p= 0.001. Among atopic asthmatics, serum folate levels were inversely correlated with total serum IgE levels (r=-0.483, p<0.001), and the number of positive SPT reactions (r=-0.442, p<0.001). Atopic asthmatics with a total serum IgE ≤200 IU/mL had significantly higher levels of serum folate than those with a total serum IgE >200 IU/mL. Regression analysis showed that higher folate levels independently predicted lower total serum IgE levels. Folate was not found to be an independent predictor of asthma. No association was observed between serum folate levels and values of forced expiratory volume in 1s.
Among asthmatics, serum folate levels are significantly lower among atopics, and correlate inversely with the degree of atopy.
比较特应性哮喘患者、非特应性哮喘患者和健康对照者的血清叶酸水平。
本病例对照研究纳入了60例皮肤点刺试验（SPT）反应至少一项为阳性的哮喘患者（特应性哮喘组）、60例SPT反应为阴性的哮喘患者（非特应性哮喘组）以及60例无哮喘或其他过敏性疾病病史且SPT反应为阴性的健康对照者。检测了所有受试者的血清叶酸和总IgE水平。此外，通过肺量计评估肺功能。
与非特应性哮喘组[11.3（7.5，14.8）ng/mL]和对照组[12.0（8.3，15.1）ng/mL]相比，特应性哮喘组的血清叶酸水平显著降低[9.1（4.9，12.1）ng/mL]，p = 0.001。在特应性哮喘患者中，血清叶酸水平与血清总IgE水平呈负相关（r = -0.483，p < 0.001），与SPT阳性反应数量呈负相关（r = -0.442，p < 0.001）。血清总IgE≤200 IU/mL的特应性哮喘患者的血清叶酸水平显著高于血清总IgE>200 IU/mL的患者。回归分析表明，较高的叶酸水平可独立预测较低的血清总IgE水平。未发现叶酸是哮喘的独立预测因素。血清叶酸水平与第1秒用力呼气量值之间未观察到相关性。
在哮喘患者中，特应性患者的血清叶酸水平显著较低，且与特应性程度呈负相关。
