IgE Anti-Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Antibodies Detected in Serum of Hib Vaccinated Asthmatic and Non-Asthmatic Pediatric Patients

Rationale: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterium that causes severe illness in infants and children and has not been linked to atopy and asthma. While the effects of certain vaccinations on atopic disease have been well-studied, little is known about the relationship between Hib vaccination and diseases of altered IgE regulation (asthma and atopy).

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 (P<0.001), and (2) IgE- and IgG- anti Hib antibody responses were similar in both asthmatic and non-asthmatic subjects (0.722 + 0.279, 0.681 + 0.28, respectively, P=0.65; 0.450 + 0.505, 0.573 +0.779, respectively, P=0.584).

Conclusions:  The universal Hib vaccine antigen does not result in either increased IgE- or IgG anti-Hib antibody responses in asthmatic or non-asthmatics subjects. Thus, in this cohort, we did not find an association between Hib vaccination and asthma status.