Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2002 Jun;12(2):82-92.

A 10 Year Follow-up of Childhood Asthma: Potential Risk Factors on Persistence of Nonspecific Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness

• Jung EM
• Kim HS
• Kang IJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: We studied the change of bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR) from childhood to early adulthood and to know the risk factors which influence on the persistence of BHR.
METHODS
Seventy two atopic asthma children with nonspecific BHR to methacholine were observed for about 10 years, longitudinally. They were divided into 3 groups depend on the degree of BHR; no BHR group(A group), asymptomatic BHR group(B group), symptomatic BHR group(C group) and compared clinical and atopic findings, inflammation degree of airway, and environmental factors between the groups.
RESULTS
In the group A, B, C, the number of subjects were, respectively, 15(20.8%), 19 (26.4%), 38(52.8%). The frequency of group C was higher in the subjects with more severe asthma symptoms and higher BHR at diagnosis. The positive rates of skin prick test to Dp, Df, and pets, serum total IgE, sputum eosinophils, sputum ECP at the time of follow-up were significantly higher in group C. The frequency of subjects with carpets/sofa/bed, pets at home and smokers at the time of follow-up were higher in group B, C.
CONCLUSION
Significant number of childhood asthma showed persistent nonspecific BHR in early adulthood. The persistence of nonspecific BHR in early adulthood was related with severity of asthma at diagnosis, laboratory findings and environmental factors at follow up.

Keyword

Childhood asthma; Risk factors; Bronchial hyperresponsiveness

MeSH Terms

Asthma*
Child
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Diagnosis
Eosinophils
Follow-Up Studies*
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Inflammation
Methacholine Chloride
Risk Factors*
Skin
Sputum
Immunoglobulin E
Methacholine Chloride