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Is intrinsic asthma a hereditary disease?
F Pirson1, D Charpin, M Sansonetti
1Département des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille, France.
Allergy
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Asthma has a hereditary basis. This study found that both intrinsic asthma and extrinsic asthma show increased familial occurrence, with higher prevalence in siblings of intrinsic asthmatics compared to non-asthmatics.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Asthma is recognized to have a hereditary component based on family, twin, and inbred population studies.
- However, limited evidence exists regarding the familial occurrence of intrinsic asthma specifically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the prevalence of asthma within families of individuals with intrinsic asthma, extrinsic asthma, and those without asthma.
- To clarify the familial aggregation patterns of different asthma phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving three groups: intrinsic asthmatics (negative skin tests, n=117), extrinsic asthmatics (positive skin tests, n=164), and non-asthmatics (n=224).
- Siblings of participants completed a standardized asthma history questionnaire.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare asthma prevalence across sibling groups.
Main Results:
- Asthma was significantly more prevalent in siblings of intrinsic asthmatics (8.9%) compared to siblings of non-asthmatics (2.4%) (P < 0.001).
- The prevalence of asthma in siblings of intrinsic asthmatics and extrinsic asthmatics was comparable.
- These findings indicate a higher familial occurrence for both intrinsic and extrinsic asthma.
Conclusions:
- Both intrinsic and extrinsic asthma demonstrate an increased familial occurrence.
- The study supports a significant hereditary component for both major asthma phenotypes.
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