Association of Atopy to Asthma Severity and Medication Use in Children

Abstract

The importance of aeroallergens as triggers for asthma is well recognized, but the relationship between asthma severity and atopic profiles in childhood has not been elucidated. This study assessed the relationship of allergen sensitization to asthma severity in a study of 114 asthmatic children followed for 8 weeks in three Southern California areas. Increased controller medication and beta-agonist use were positively associated with number of positive skin tests and allergy to mold and pollens. Mold was associated with increased asthma symptoms. Degree of atopy and reactivity to mold and pollens plays a significant role in asthma severity in asthmatic children.

Rhinovirus 16–induced IFN-α and IFN-β are deficient in bronchoalveolar lavage cells in asthmatic patients

“…Skin prick test response positivity has previously been associated with more severe asthma in children. 32 During the conduct of this study, it was reported that deficient influenza A virus induced IFN-a in plasmacytoid dendritic cells from asthmatic patients inversely correlated with serum IgE levels and that activation of the high-affinity IgE receptor in vivo might be involved in impaired IFN-a induction to influenza virus. 22 IgE levels have also been observed to inversely correlate with impaired TLR7 induction of the interferon-induced gene IFN-g-induced protein 10 in PBMCs from asthmatic adolescents.…”

Sensitization to indoor allergens and frequency of asthma exacerbations in children

“…univariate analysis of the confounding factors did not reveal any significant influence on the frequency of asthma exacerbations, as shown in Table 3. 19 showed a significant association in fungi only, and not in the other aeroallergens. Separately, a significant association was also observed between sensitization to cat allergen and asthma severity.…”

“…This association was not significant in other indoor allergens tested with SPT (Alternaria, house dust mite, cockroach). 12 Schwindt et al 19 reported a significant association between asthma severity and cumulative atopy level, calculated from the total SPT score to indoor and outdoor allergens (P=0.03). Analysis of median age was 93 months (interquartile range: 81-117 months), with mean age was 100 months.…”

Linkage of atopic dermatitis to chromosomes 4q22, 3p24 and 3q21

“…In principle it corresponds to the atopy severity scales used by Hao et al (2006) and Daniels et al (1996). NIgE corresponds to the score used by Schwindt et al (2006), applying a slightly diVerent selection of aeroallergens.…”