LAUSR

Introduction: The investigation of biomarkers could have a predictive value for the degree of asthma severity, occurrence of exacerbations and response to therapy. Aims: The aim was to investigate the diagnostic value of biomarkers in allergic and non- allergic asthma phenotype. Methods 149 adult asthmatic patients without asthma exacerbation were investigated. We collected information about patient9s age, measured biomarkers: total serum IgE (sIgE), Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and determined their Forced Expiratory volume in 1 second FEV1(L). Distribution of biomarkers between allergic and non-allergic phenotype were analysed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results: In univariate model, age, sIgE and FEV1 (L) were significantly related to allergic asthma phenotype. These patients are younger (median 56 years) than patients with non-allergic phenotype (median 62.5 years). Among people with allergic phenotype, mean sIgE and mean FEV1 (L) values (300.2kIU/L, 2.3L) are higher than among non-allergic asthma phenotype (60.1kIU/L, 1.8L). The FeNO values do not significantly differ between allergic (24.3 ppb) and non-allergic (15.6 ppb) asthma phenotype. When adjusted for all variables included in model, only sIgE level was significantly associated to the allergic asthma phenotype. Conclusion: We have found that allergic asthmatic patients are younger, have milder degree of asthma severity, better lung function and higher values of total serum IgE and FEV1 than non-allergic. Better lung function could be related to their better respond to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and cornerstone therapy while patients with non-allergic phenotype are older and could have airways remodelling.