Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

10.7K

Fetal Origins of Asthma: A Longitudinal Study from Birth to Age 36 Years

Stefano Guerra1,2,3, Enrico Lombardi1,4, Debra A Stern1

  • 1Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|July 11, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Infant lung function deficits, including expiratory flow timing (tptef/te) and maximal expiratory flow (V̇maxFRC), predict childhood asthma risk. These early markers are linked to adult asthma and airway structural changes, highlighting fetal origins of the disease.

Area of Science:

  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Background:

  • Infant lung function deficits, specifically the ratio of the time to reach peak tidal expiratory flow to the total expiratory time (tptef/te) and maximal expiratory flow at FRC (V̇maxFRC), are associated with increased childhood asthma risk.
  • Understanding these early markers is crucial for predicting long-term respiratory health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the individual and combined effects of infant tptef/te and V̇maxFRC on the risk of developing asthma into mid-adulthood.
  • To examine the association between these infant lung function measures and airway structural abnormalities in later life.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study birth cohort, including 180 participants.
  • Measured infant lung function using the chest-compression technique (mean age 2.0 months).
  • Assessed active asthma via questionnaires up to age 36 and evaluated airway structure using HRCT imaging at age 26.

Main Results:

  • A 1-SD decrease in infant tptef/te and V̇maxFRC independently increased asthma risk by 70% (P=0.001) and 55% (P=0.005), respectively.
  • Infants with the lowest tertile for both measures had a two-thirds likelihood of developing active asthma by mid-adulthood.
  • Infant V̇maxFRC predicted reduced airflow, and infant tptef/te predicted reduced airway caliber on HRCT at age 26.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life deficits in tptef/te and V̇maxFRC have lasting impacts on respiratory health, supporting the concept of fetal origins of asthma.
  • These infant lung function parameters contribute independently to asthma development and are linked to structural airway changes in adulthood.

Keywords:
HRCT imagingairflow limitationasthmainfant lung function

More Related Videos

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs05:40

Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs

Published on: December 22, 2023

490
A Reversible, Non-invasive Method for Airway Resistance Measurements and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Sampling in Mice09:58

A Reversible, Non-invasive Method for Airway Resistance Measurements and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Sampling in Mice

Published on: April 13, 2010

23.1K

Related Concept Videos

Asthma-I: Introduction01:29

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
3.3K
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
1.1K
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
3.9K
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications01:24

Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications

Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, is classified considering the frequency and severity of symptoms alongside lung function impairment. Understanding this classification is essential for appropriate treatment and management. Here's a detailed look at the classification of asthma and its clinical features and complications:
Classification of Asthma
3.1K
Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.0K
Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management01:30

Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management

The diagnosis and management of asthma are comprehensive, encompassing clinical assessments, lung function tests, and pharmacological interventions. Here's an overview:
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
2.9K