SPUTUM CYTOKINES IN ALLERGIC ASTHMATIC
SCHOOL-AGED EGYPTIAN CHILDREN
El-Mishad, M. (MD)*; Saliem, M.S. (MD)** and
Fakher, MM. (MD)***
Microbiology Department, Al-Azhar University* and
Pediatiatric Department, Benha University**
ABSTRACT
Sputum cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in school-aged
children (7:12 years) having either allergic asthma (30 patients) or allergic
rhinitis (25 patients) diagnosed on clinical basis and laboratory data
including high IgE serum level, blood eosinophilia, positive Benchard test
with stools free of parasitic infestation. Apparently healthy age and sex
matched control group (20 children) was included in this study.
Sputum IL-8 showed highly significant increase in allergic asthmatic
patients compared to the controls (p<0.001). The sputum level of IL-8 was
significantly related to the number of attacks of wheezes in the last 3
months (p<0.001). Also it was found to be higher in allergic rhinitis
patients than the control group with no statistically significant value. On the
other hand sputum IL-6 concentrations did not differ significantly among
the three groups; however, its level was higher in cases with more frequent
attacks of wheezes.
We concluded that increased IL-8 production is a characteristic of
the airways of asthmatic children when asymptomatic, and we speculated
that IL-8 plays a role in the maintenance of airway inflammation in
allergic asthma, while IL-6 does not. In allergic rhinitis, both IL-8 & IL-6
have no statistical significance. |
