IgE anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) antibodies detected in serum of Hib-vaccinated asthmatic and non-asthmatic pediatric patients

BACKGROUND Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacterium causes severe illness in infants and children, but has largely been eliminated by introducing a universal Hib conjugate vaccine. While effects of certain vaccinations on atopic disease have been studied, little is known about the relationship between Hib vaccination and diseases of altered immunoglobulin E (IgE) regulation (asthma or atopy). As such, it is necessary to provide more evidence concerning Hib vaccination as a possible risk factor for atopic disease. METHODS Total serum IgE and IgE-and IgG-anti-Hib antibody responses were studied in Hib vaccinated asthmatic (N.=14) and non-asthmatic children (N=26) (VaccZyme™ Human Anti Hib Enzyme Immunoassay Kit). Data are reported as mean optical density (OD) values. RESULTS We found that: 1) total serum IgE levels were higher in asthmatic compared with non-asthmatic subjects (389±125 vs. 125±129, P