Association between severity of asthma and fungal sensitization in severely asthmatic patients

Abstract

Background: Fungal sensitization is usually associated with increased asthmatic severity, morbidity and mortality, including higher rates of hospital and intensive care admission. However, the possible association between fungal airway colonization with regard to sensitization remains controversial. Objectives: to investigate the presence of severe asthma with fungal sensitization among asthmatic patients and to find evidence of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) role in severely asthmatic patients. Methods: this study investigated forty asthmatic patients and twenty controls. Demographic data of all subjects within the study was collected, as well as total serum IgE, A.fumigatus specific IgE and A. fumigatus galactomannan antigen ELISA test. Results: our results showed significant elevation of total IgE, Aspergillus specific IgE and A. fumigatus galactomannan antigen in 75% of severely asthmatic patients, compared to patients with mild asthma and negative values in control. Conclusion: We report a high percent of A. fumigatus colonization among severely asthmatic patients. This supports the hypothesis of the role of fungal elements colonization in the airways of patients with severe asthma.

Keywords

• fungal
• sensitization
• asthma