Clinical Pediatrics: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Association of Asthma Symptoms and Exacerbation with Inflammatory Biomarkers

Marta Navratil, Irena Ivkovic Jurekovic, Iva Topalusic, Alen Svigir, Natasa Andrijasevic and Filip Rubic

Objective: To investigate a relationship of asthma symptoms and exacerbations with systemic (high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), leukocytes) and local (exhaled NO (FENO), pH and urates in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and exhaled breath temperature (EBT)) inflammatory biomarkers (BMs) in asthmatic children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 93 consecutive asthmatic patients (age 6-18 years, 22 girls) with mild intermittent asthma ((IA), N=44) and mild to moderate persistent asthma ((PA), N=49). Medical history (asthma symptoms and exacerbation), pulmonary function, FENO, EBT, samples of exhaled breath and peripheral blood were collected.

Results: Local BMs (EBC urates and EBT) showed stronger correlation with asthma symptoms then systemic BMs (hs-CRP, blood count with differencials) (r=0.26-0.68, r=0.06-0.32, p<0.05; respectively). Single measurements of inflammatory BMs are not good predictors for future asthma exacerbation (binary logistic regression; χ²=13.9; df=11; p=0.238).

Conclusion: Study of combination of various exhaled breath and exhaled breath condensate BMs should continue, especially in longitudinal studies with repeated measurements of BMs.