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Premenstrual asthma with seasonal variation
M Shibasaki1, K Takeda, R Sumazaki
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Annals of Allergy
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Premenstrual asthma (PMA) in a young woman showed a seasonal pattern similar to childhood asthma hospital admissions. This suggests environmental factors, not just house-dust mites, influence her cyclical asthma.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Premenstrual asthma (PMA) is a cyclical exacerbation of asthma symptoms related to the menstrual cycle.
- Understanding the triggers and patterns of PMA is crucial for effective management.
Observation:
- A 19-year-old woman experienced seasonal PMA from April to October annually.
- Her PMA pattern closely mirrored the monthly hospital admission rates for acute asthma in children within the same region.
- Despite high house-dust mite sensitivity, the timing of her PMA did not correlate with seasonal mite population fluctuations.
Findings:
- The seasonal pattern of the patient's premenstrual asthma aligns with regional pediatric asthma admission trends.
- This correlation suggests a potential shared environmental trigger influencing both the patient's PMA and general childhood asthma incidence during specific months.
- House-dust mite sensitivity alone did not explain the observed monthly variation in her PMA.
Implications:
- Investigating broader environmental factors, such as seasonal allergens or pollutants, may be key to understanding and managing this patient's PMA.
- This case highlights the potential for distinct triggers in premenstrual asthma, extending beyond typical indoor allergens.
- Further research into the interplay between environmental seasonality and hormonal fluctuations in asthma is warranted.