Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2005 Dec;15(4):344-351.

The Relationship between Allergen Sensitization and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Children Aged 6-8 Years

• Yu J
• Yoo Y
• Kang H
• Kim DK
• Choi SH
• Koh YY

Abstract

PURPOSE
The identification of risk factors for bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is important in furthering the understanding of the cause of asthma. BHR is known to be related to atopy. We investigated the relations of BHR to sensitization to the five allergen groups in children aged 6-8 years. METHODS: Four hundred and seven 6-8 year old children with acute or chronic respiratory symptoms were enrolled. Each subject underwent methacholine bronchial challenge and skin-prick tests with airbone allergens. BHR was defined as PC20< or =8 mg/mL methacholine. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to study the independent relationship between BHR and sensitization to individual allergen group. RESULTS: The significant associations between BHR and skin-test response were against house dust mites (odds ratio=1.64, 95% confidence interval=1.02-2.65) and pollen (3.47, 1.18- 10.17) in total subjects, all after adjustment by sex, age, FEV1/FVC, total IgE, and a positive response to any of the other four allergen groups measured. In subjects with asthma, the significant association between BHR and positive skin-test response was observed only for house dust mites (2.53, 1.11-5.77). CONCLUSION: BHR was found to be related to atopy against house dust mite and pollen in subjects with respiratory symptoms, and against only house dust mites in subjects with asthma. These findings suggest atopy, especially against house dust mites, is an important risk factor for bronchial hyperresponsiveness in this age group.

Keyword

Atopy; Bronchial hyperresponsiveness; Child

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Asthma
Child*
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Logistic Models
Methacholine Chloride
Pollen
Pyroglyphidae
Risk Factors
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E
Methacholine Chloride