[Correlation between serum IgE antibodies to allergens and OSAHS in pediatric patients with tonsillar adenoid...

Objective:This study aims to investigate the correlation between serum allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E（IgE） antibodies and OSAHS in pediatric patients with tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy. Methods:A total of 54 children diagnosed with tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy at our hospital between March 2023 and August 2024 were selected for the study. Serum allergen-specific IgE antibody levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）, while sleep conditions were assessed via polysomnography. The relationship between serum IgE antibodies and OSAHS was then analyzed. Results:The positivity rate of serum allergen-specific IgE antibodies in children with tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy was 37.0%. Among these, dust mites were the predominant allergen with a positivity rate of 60.0%, followed by pollens（25.0%）, molds（20.0%）, and animal dander（15.0%）. The food allergen positivity rate in the 3-6 year age group was significantly higher than in the 7-12 year age group（P<0.01）, while the positivity rates for dust mites and pollens were higher in the 7-12 year age group compared to the 3-6 year age group（P<0.05）. The incidence of OSAHS was 51.9%. Children with positive serum IgE antibodies exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of OSAHS compared to those with negative results（P<0.05）. Furthermore, IgE antibody levels were significantly correlated with sleep-disordered breathing indices, such as the obstructive apnea hypoventilation Index（OAHI） and lowest oxygen saturation（LSpO2）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that positive serum IgE antibodies are an independent risk factor for OSAHS in children with tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy（P<0.05）. Conclusion:There is a significant association between serum allergen-specific IgE antibodies and OSAHS in pediatric patients with tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy. The allergen distribution varies across different age groups, with dust mites being the primary sensitizing allergen. For children with OAHI≥1 time/hour and a history of allergic rhinitis, it is recommended to prioritize serum IgE and allergen screening. If IgE is strongly positive（>3.5 IU/mL）, perioperative nasal corticosteroids or anti-IgE therapy may be considered, and the timing of surgery and the necessity of combined therapy should be evaluated.