Sensitivity to bordetella pertussis in asthmatic patients

Background/Aim: Asthmatic patients may complicate with pertussis more frequently than non-asthmatics. It is mentioned decreased immunoreaction to tetanus toxoid or increased sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae is shown in asthmatics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the humoral immunosuppression to Bordetella pertussis in asthmatics. Objectives/Methods: 51 patients suspected as pertussis serologically were classified two groups of asthmatics (17 patients) or non-asthmatics (34 patients). Between two groups, titers of anti-pertussis antibody in both initial and recovery points were compared. Results: In asthmatics, anti-Yamaguchi strain antibody titers in initial and recovery points and ratio of anti-Tohama strain antibody titers in two points were predominantly lower than in non-athmatics. Table 1. Anti-Yamaguchi strain antibody titers Initial Recovery Ratio (initial/recovery) range mean range mean range mean Athmatics 10–320 106.5±92.8* 10–320 107.1±96.4** 0.25–8.0 1.32±1.77 Non-athmatics 10–1280 342.9±465.7* 10–1280 421.8±512.8** 0.25–16 2.38±4.36 *p<0.05, **p<0.01. Table 2. Anti-Tohama strain antibody titers Initial Recovery Ratio (initial/recovery) range mean range mean range mean Athmatics 10–1280 318.2±472.2 10–1280 287.1±477.8 0.5–1.0 0.85±0.24* Non-athmatics 10–1280 221.2±344.5 10–1280 184.4±290.4 0.25–2.0 1.04±0.51* *p<0.05. Conclusion: We speculate the humoral immunoreaction to B. pertussis could be suppressed in asthmatic patients.