[The investigation of asthmatic children by multiple factor analysis. I. The relation between severity of asthma and...

In a previous study, we analysed the severity of bronchial asthma in childhood by the class II multiple factor analysis method. At that time, the titers of IgE and IgG4 antibodies to the three major food (cow's milk, egg white, and soybeans) and inhalation antigens such as house dust and mites were, however, left unevaluated because of a lack of independence. The quantification of their relative ratios was introduced into the present study, which made it possible to compare their individual potential as risk factors. Exercise induced asthma had the most outstanding effects on the severity of bronchial asthma, followed by counts of peripheral eosinophils and house dust and mites, in this order. Regarding food antigens, the presence of IgG4 and IgE antibody to egg white was the most critical factor, following by titers of IgG4 to cow's milk and soybeans. Complications with atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis little affected the severity. Bronchial asthma becomes manifest through a complicated mechanism involving a variety of causative factors. The results given above suggest that the contribution of individual risk factors can be quantified.