Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2005 Mar;25(1):27-33.

Prevalence of Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness and Atopy in Siblings according to their Probands' Status

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It has been established that both bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and atopy had familial tendency.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to determine whether siblings' frequency of BHR or atopy depends on their probands' and to investigate the relationship between BHR and atopy in probands and siblings, respectively. METHOD: We performed methacholine bronchial challenges and skin prick testings in 397 proband-sibling pairs on the same day for each pair. According to the results of probands' BHR (PC20<16 mg/mL) or atopy, siblings were grouped as Group A1 (siblings of probands with BHR, n=288), Group A2 (siblings of probands without BHR, n=109), Group B1 (siblings of probands with atopy, n=300), and Group B2 (siblings of probands without atopy, n=97). RESULT: Prevalence of BHR was significantly increased in Group A1 (n=128, 44.4%) than in Group A2 (n=23, 21.1%) (P<0.001). Significantly numerous atopy subjects were detected in Group B1 (n=146, 48.7%) than in Group B2 (n=34, 35.1%)(P=0.026). Both probands and siblings with BHR had higher frequencies of atopy than without BHR (probands: 80.6% vs. 62.4%, siblings: 54.3% vs. 39.8%)(P<0.001). Likewise, atopic subjects had greater numbers of BHR than nonatopic subjects (probands: 77.3% vs. 57.7%, siblings: 45.6% vs. 31.8%)(P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BHR or atopy in siblings depended on their probands' status. Moreover BHR and atopy were closely related in each of probands and their siblings. We concluded that BHR and atopy run in proband- sibling pair.

MeSH Terms

Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate
Methacholine Chloride
Prevalence*
Siblings*
Skin
Methacholine Chloride