Thymic stromal lymphopoietin in bronchial asthma patients of different age groups: correlation with other markers, lung function results and disease control

Abstract

Objective: to investigate correlation between thymic stromal lymphopoietin and bronchial asthma course and control in patients of different age groups. Materials and methods: one hundred and four patients were included in 1-year long open prospective study. There were three age groups: children (6 –11 y.o., n=38), adolescents (14–17 y.o., n=35) and adults (25 –50 y.o., n=31). we used asthma duration ≥12 months, uncontrolled asthma and acute respiratory infection absence for ≥14 days as inclusion criteria. Clinical history, validated questionnaires, spirometry, common blood count, serum and nasal material to evaluate thymic stromal lymphopoietin were obtained during first visit. Patient were consequently examined twice with 6 months intervals. Statistical analyses included ANOVA (Kruskal-wallis test) and Pearson’s correlation (r). Differences accepted significant with р<0,05. Resuts: prevalence of main risk factors of asthma control lost (poor compliance, obesity, non-atopic phenotype, fixed airway obstruction) was different in age groups. we didn’t find any thymic stromal lymphopoietin in nasal material. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin concentration correlate significantly with duration of uncontrolled asthma in previous 12 months (r=0,74). we have found greater serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin concentration in patients who demonstrated FEV1 below normal at Visit 3. Conclusion. Serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin level can be used as risk factor of asthma future exacerbation and spirometry results decline.