Bronchial responsiveness and serum eosinophil cationic protein levels in preschool children with recurrent wheezing.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is a universally recognized phenomenon of asthma, and increased levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) have been identified in the serum of patients with asthma.

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate whether enhanced bronchial responsiveness and elevated serum ECP levels are associated with recurrent wheezing in preschool children and to examine the possible relationship between these 2 variables.

METHODS:

We recruited 130 children aged 4 to 6 years: 59 with at least 3 episodes of wheezing in the previous year (current wheezers), 38 with a documented history of wheezing before 3 years of age but no subsequent wheezing episodes (past wheezers), and 33 who had never experienced wheezing (nonwheezers). The children underwent methacholine bronchial provocation tests using a modified auscultation method and blood sampling for the measurement of ECP levels.

RESULTS:

Current wheezers showed greater bronchial responsiveness than past wheezers and nonwheezers, as demonstrated by lower provocation concentrations that caused audible wheeze and lower provocation concentrations that caused a decline in oxygen saturation of at least 5% from baseline. Likewise, current wheezers had higher serum ECP levels than the other 2 groups. Among current wheezers, ECP levels showed a significant negative correlation with provocation concentrations that caused oxygen desaturation and a marginally significant correlation with provocation concentrations that caused audible wheeze.

CONCLUSIONS:

Enhanced bronchial responsiveness and elevated serum ECP levels are associated with recurrent wheezing in 4- to 6-year-old children. These results suggest that wheezing during preschool years may be phenotypically similar to wheezing in older children.

• Authors: Jinho Yu, Young Yoo, Do Kyun Kim, Hee Kang, Young Yull Koh
• Journal: Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol) Vol. 94 Issue 6 Pg. 686-92 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 1081-1206 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15984603 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Bronchoconstrictor Agents
• Methacholine Chloride
• Eosinophil Cationic Protein

Topics

• Asthma (diagnosis)
• Bronchi (drug effects)
• Bronchial Hyperreactivity (diagnosis)
• Bronchoconstrictor Agents (pharmacology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Eosinophil Cationic Protein (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Methacholine Chloride (pharmacology)
• Recurrence
• Respiratory Sounds