Is atopic sensitization associated with indicators of early vascular ageing in adolescents?

Abstract

Background Chronic systemic inflammation accelerates early vascular ageing. Atopic sensitization and allergic diseases may involve increased inflammatory activity. This study aimed to assess whether atopic sensitization and allergic diseases were associated with altered vascular biomarkers in Norwegian adolescents. Methods Distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries, carotid intima-media thickness and atopic sensitization (serum total and specific IgEs) were assessed in 95 Norwegian adolescents, who participated in the RHINESSA generation study. Symptoms of allergic disease were assessed by an interviewer-led questionnaire. Results Atopic sensitization was found in 33 (34.7%) of the adolescents. Symptomatic allergic disease was found in 11 (33.3%) of those with atopic sensitization. Distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries appeared to be lower in participants with atopic sensitization than in those without (46.99±8.07*10 −3 /kPa versus 51.50±11.46*10 −3 /kPa; p >0.05), while carotid intima-media thickness did not differ between these groups (0.50±0.04mm versus 0.50±0.04mm; p >0.05). Crude, as well as age- and sex-adjusted multiple regression, revealed no significant association, neither of atopic sensitization nor of allergic disease, with distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries and carotid intima-media thickness. Conclusions Our results do not support the assumption of an adverse impact of atopic sensitization and/or allergic disease on distensibility coefficient of the common carotid arteries and carotid intima-media thickness in Norwegian adolescents. Further research is necessary to study whether the clinical severity of allergic diseases might be more important than the status of allergic disease or atopic sensitization.

Assessment of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Children with Atopic Dermatitis

“…They found atopic sensitivity in 33 (34.7%) patients and symptomatic allergic disease in only 11 (33.3%) patients. In their study, distensibility was lower in patients with atopic sensitivity than in those without atopic sensitivity, whereas CIMT did not significantly differ between these groups, and a multivariate linear regression analysis showed no significance [25]. Similarly, the presence of atopic sensitization was not associated with subclinical atherosclerosis markers in our study.…”

“…There have been very few studies evaluating the relationship between atopic status and subclinical atherosclerosis. In the study by Königstein et al [25], they investigated whether atopic sensitization was associated with indicators of early vascular aging in 95 adolescents. They found atopic sensitivity in 33 (34.7%) patients and symptomatic allergic disease in only 11 (33.3%) patients.…”