Autoimmune antibodies in intrinsic (non-atopic) asthma

Tests for autoimmune antibodies (AA) were carried out in 70 patients suffering from chronic obstructive disease of the airways and in 18 healthy subjects, who served as a control group. AA were found in 55% of the patients with intrinsic asthma as compared to 21% of those with extrinsic asthma, 25% of the patients with bronchitis and 16% of the healthy controls. The difference between the intrinsic and the other groups was found to be statistically significant (p less than 0.05 - less than 0.02).