IMPORTANCE OF TOTAL SERUM IGE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN AIRWAYS HYPERRESPONSIVENESS WITH INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS IN ASTHMA AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE

Airways hyperresponsiveness is a hallmark of asthma, and many patients with COPD also demonstrate hyperresponsiveness. Inhaled corticosteroids improve hyperresponsiveness, but the extent of improvement may vary considerably between patients. This study was designed to determine which patient characteristics predict these differences in response. Patients with mild to moderately severe obstructive airways disease (asthma and COPD) were selected if PC20 less than or equal to 8 mg/ml and FEV(1)