Abstract
In the last decades, many researchers have been focusing on early origins of asthma. Despite significant improvement in diagnostics and treatment of asthma even in the youngest age groups, we still lack information about the pathophysiological background in its earliest stages. In our recent work we found difference in the bronchial basement membrane (BM) thickness between young children at risk for developing asthma and age-matched controls with negative asthma predictive index (API) due to higher deposition of laminin, suggesting it being one of the first signs of bronchial remodelling in asthma (Berankova et al: Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2014;25(2):136-42).
The same group of children has been followed up in their preschool age (aged 38 to 61 months, median 52 months). In all children we have performed spirometry obtaining relevant results in 6 children from control group (37.5%) and 9 children from risk group (64.3%).
The average lung functions (FEV1 and FVC)) were slightly worse in the risk group compared to controls (average FEV1 87.38 vs. 105.67% predicted and average FVC 85.22 vs. 97.67% predicted respectively, but the difference did not reach statistical significance).
In both observed groups there was no correlation between FEV1 in preschool age and BM thickness in early age (r2=0.083 (p=0.79) in risk group and r2=-0.086 (p=0.87) in controls). Similarly there was no correlation between FVC and BM thickness (r2=-0.233 (p=0.55) and r2=0.143 (p=0.79) in the risk group and controls respectively).
Based on the results we conclude, that BM thickening in early age does not predict the lung function impairment in preschool age regardless if children fulfil the API criteria or not.
- Copyright ©the authors 2016