Elevated inflammatory markers at preschool age precede persistent wheezing at school age

Abstract

We demonstrated that 5 yr old children with persistent wheeze already had elevated exhaled inflammatory markers at preschool age compared to never wheezers, indicating augmented airway inflammation in these children.

Predicting who will have asthma at school age among preschool children

“…Many noninvasive techniques of airway inflammation, such as the composition of exhaled breath condensate, are not yet able to predict the persistence of asthma symptoms in preschool children. 60 Addition of the API to measurement of the exhaled breath condensate pH improved its performance substantially in discriminating atopic and nonatopic 5-year-olds with wheeze. 61 Fifth, better characterization of the genetic risk might improve the prediction of asthma.…”

Childhood asthma biomarkers: present knowledge and future steps

“…One study simultaneously tested the presence of several cytokines, chemokines and soluble adhesion molecules in the EBC of asthmatic children and controls, finding these molecules significantly increased in the asthmatic subjects [85]. Interestingly, five-year-old children with persistent wheeze had higher exhaled inflammatory marker levels than those who had never wheezed, indicating a greater airway inflammation in the former already at preschool age [86].…”

Recent advances on diagnosis and management of childhood asthma and food allergies

“…Since many years clinical scientists are trying to find markers predicting asthma. A recent study has shown that inflammatory markers, including many interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-8 and IL-10) are elevated in the exhaled breath condensate already during the pre-clinical phase anticipating wheezing [63]. Furthermore, perinatal factors may affect lung maturity and contribute to cause wheezing and asthma.…”