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Relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and impaired lung function after infantile asthma
Christophe Delacourt1, Marie-Rose Benoist, Muriel Le Bourgeois
1Laboratoire d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, Service de Pneumologie et Allergologie Pédiatriques, Hôpital des Enfants Malades, Paris, France. christophe.delacourt@chicreteil.fr
Plos One
|November 15, 2007
Summary
Infantile asthma linked to persistent wheezing and impaired lung function. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in infants predicts future lung function decline, suggesting early airway remodeling in childhood asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Asthma Research
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Infant wheezing is associated with diminished pulmonary function.
- Asthma in children can lead to long-term respiratory issues.
- Early identification of risk factors is crucial for managing childhood asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and progressive pulmonary function impairment in asthmatic infants.
- To identify predictors of persistent wheezing and long-term lung function in a cohort of asthmatic children.
- To explore the role of BHR in early airway remodeling in infantile asthma.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 129 wheezing infants followed until age 9.
- Regular assessments included physical exams, lung function tests, and methacholine challenge tests.
- Data analyzed to correlate BHR, clinical symptoms, parental atopy, and pulmonary function over time.
Main Results:
- Twenty-nine percent of infants experienced persistent wheezing until age 9.
- Early BHR predicted altered lung function but not persistent wheezing.
- Persistent wheezing was linked to BHR and impaired lung function by age 5, indicating early airway remodeling.
Conclusions:
- Persistent wheezing from infancy to age 9 is associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness and impaired lung function.
- Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is a significant predictor of impaired lung function in children.
- Findings suggest early airway remodeling in infantile asthma, highlighting the need for early intervention.
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