Objective: to unmask any differences in the age-related and IgE-mediated pathophysiology of the airways in asthmatics.

Objective: to unmask any differences in the age-related and IgE-mediated pathophysiology of the airways in asthmatics. Methods: we examined the relationship of the one and the other IgE-mediated bronchial hyperresponsiveness and the small cavity content of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with a family history of asthma in 263 patients with asthma classified according to age at first brunt Results: bronchial hyperresponsiveness decreased significantly as age at attack increased in those without a family history. Responsiveness was significantly higher in patients who were >60 years of age at attack who had a family history than in those who did not (P < 005) The proportion of lymphocyte in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was significantly higher in patients between 50 and 59 years antique at onset who had a family history than those who did not (P < 005) These eventuates suggest that bronchial hyperresponsiveness and the proportion of bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocyte differ according to the mien or absence of a family history, a finding which is closely related to IgE-mediated allergy in somewhat old patients at onset. Conclusions: our findings prompt (i) the possibility of asthma induced by the agency of non-IgE-mediated allergy in elderly patients and (ii) that bronchial responsiveness is also influenced from IgE-mediated allergy and age at onset

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