Cross-sectional prospective cohort study.
50 asthmatic women and 30 healthy control women were tested for thyroid function, anti-TPO, anti-CK18 autoantibodies, and total IgE measurements. Pulmonary function tests, skin-prick test and history of asthma risk factors were done for asthmatic women.
Allergic asthma were found in half of the asthmatic patients and the other half (25/50) were non-allergic according to the results of skin-brick test and serum level of IgE. The thyroid function tests were not statistically different between asthmatic and control groups as well as between non-allergic and allergic asthma groups (P > 0.05). Serum anti-TPO autoantibodies and anti-CK18 autoantibodies’ levels were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than the control group and also in non-allergic asthma patients than allergic asthma patients. In asthmatic patients serum anti-TPO autoantibodies showed negative correlation with FEV1 (pre- and post) and serum IgE.
Positive anti-TPO autoantibodies and anti-CK18 autoantibodies in asthmatic patients and their higher level in the non-allergic asthma group may strengthen the presence of a hidden autoimmune phenomenon in non-allergic asthma.