Association of nasal inflammation and lower airway responsiveness in schoolchildren based on an epidemiological survey.
10.3904/kjim.2015.30.2.226
- Author:
Jun Ho MYUNG
1
;
Hyun Jeong SEO
;
Soo Jeong PARK
;
Bo Young KIM
;
Il Sang SHIN
;
Jun Hak JANG
;
Yun Kyung KIM
;
An Soo JANG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. jas877@schmc.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Eosinophils;
Nose;
Bronchial hyperreactivity
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Age Distribution;
Age Factors;
Asthma/diagnosis/*epidemiology/physiopathology;
Bronchial Hyperreactivity/diagnosis/*enzymology/physiopathology;
Bronchial Provocation Tests;
Child;
Eosinophilia/diagnosis/*epidemiology/immunology;
Eosinophils/immunology;
Female;
Health Surveys;
Humans;
Intradermal Tests;
Leukocyte Count;
Lung/*physiopathology;
Male;
Nasal Mucosa/*immunology;
Republic of Korea/epidemiology;
Rhinitis/diagnosis/*epidemiology/immunology;
Spirometry;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2015;30(2):226-231
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We sought to increase our understanding of the rhinitis-asthma relationship and improve strategies for the treatment of patients with these diseases. The aim of this study was to identify a connection between upper airway inflammation and lower airway responsiveness. METHODS: We counted eosinophils on nasal smears, and performed spirometry, allergic skin tests, and methacholine challenge tests in 308 schoolchildren plus a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. The methacholine concentration causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (PC20 < 25 mg/mL) was used as the threshold of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). RESULTS: In total, 26% of subjects had positive nasal eosinophils on a smear, and 46.2% of subjects had BHR at < 25 mg/mL methacholine PC20. Nasal symptoms were higher in subjects with than without nasal eosinophils (p = 0.012). Asthma symptoms did not differ between subjects with and without nasal eosinophils. Nasal eosinophils were higher in subjects with atopy than those without (p = 0.006), and there was no difference in PC20 methacholine according to atopy (15.5 +/- 1.07 vs. 17.5 +/- 0.62; p > 0.05). No difference in BHR was detected when comparing subjects with and without nasal eosinophils. There were significant differences in the PC20 between subjects with greater than 50% nasal eosinophils and without nasal eosinophils (11.01 +/- 2.92 mg/mL vs. 17.38 +/- 0.61 mg/mL; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that nasal eosinophilic inflammation might contribute to lower airway responsiveness in schoolchildren, based on an epidemiological survey.
