Document Detail


Altered eosinophil levels as a result of viral infection in asthma exacerbation in childhood.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12000498     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Respiratory viral infection is known to be a significant cause of asthma exacerbation. Eosinophils have been considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of virus-induced asthma exacerbations. To determine how often asthma exacerbation is caused by virus infections and to examine the relationship between eosinophilia and asthma episode, we investigated 64 children who experienced asthma attacks between October 1999 and March 2000. We used rapid enzyme immunoassays to detect antigens of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A virus, and adenovirus in nasopharyngeal secretions (NPS) of these children, and enumerated eosinophils in the blood and NPS. We detected RSV in 27% and influenza A virus in 17% of the patients. No adenovirus infection or RSV/influenza A co-infection was detected. RSV-infected children were younger (3.85 +/- 0.83 years old) than influenza A virus-infected patients (5.23 +/- 1.34 years old). Eighty-two per cent of patients in the RSV group and 36% of patients in the influenza A virus group had moderate-to-severe asthma episodes (p < 0.05). In RSV-infected children, the eosinophil counts in NPS were higher in the 'severe' group, and younger patients had a greater number of eosinophils in their NPS than older patients (p < 0.05). These trends were not found in influenza A virus patients. In conclusion, our results indicate that, compared with influenza A virus-induced asthma attacks, RSV infection had a higher probability of being associated with asthma exacerbation in infants and younger children and induced attacks of greater severity. The increase in the number of eosinophils in the NPS of RSV-infected children may be responsible, in part, for these differences.
Authors:
Jing Zhao; Mayumi Takamura; Akiko Yamaoka; Yasuhei Odajima; Yoji Iikura
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology     Volume:  13     ISSN:  0905-6157     ISO Abbreviation:  Pediatr Allergy Immunol     Publication Date:  2002 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2002-05-09     Completed Date:  2002-11-15     Revised Date:  2008-05-28    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9106718     Medline TA:  Pediatr Allergy Immunol     Country:  Denmark    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  47-50     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Antigens, Viral / blood
Asthma / blood,  virology*
Child
Child, Preschool
Eosinophils / cytology,  virology*
Female
Humans
Infant
Leukocyte Count
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / immunology
Virus Diseases / blood,  complications*,  immunology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antigens, Viral

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