Is Serum Tryptase a Valuable Marker for Obesity-Bronchial Asthma Interrelationship in Children?

• Main Authors: Abdel Gawad TA (Author), Terez B Kamel (Author), Manal M Abd Al-Aziz (Author), Abou-Sekin TA (Author), Mourad Alfy Ramzy (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Open Journal of Asthma - Peertechz Publications, 2017-04-12.
• Subjects: Research Article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Asthma among obese represents a unique phenotype. Mast cells are more abundant inobese. Serum tryptase (ST) is a marker of mast cell numbers or activity. Since obesity and asthma have been linked in epidemiological studies, a possible higher mast cell activity in obesity could be a factor between the two conditions. This study was to investigate ST and its potential association between obesity and childhood asthma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Study recruited 60 asthmatic children, their age ranged from 5-16 years. They were divided according to BMI centile to 30 obese and 30 non-obese asthmatics. Thirty healthy non-asthmatic,  nonatopic and non-obese children; were included as a healthy control. Serum tryptase, atopy (skin prick test reactivity) and spirometry were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Frequency of atopy and positive skin prick test significantly increased among obese more than non-obese asthmatics (P<0.05, OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.27-3.24). FEV1% of predicted mean levels were lower among obese than non-obese asthmatics (p<0.05). ST was significantly higher in asthmatics than in controls with a mean ±SD of 53.3±13.78 ng/ml and 10.06±4.39 ng/ml respectively. ST was higher in obese than non-obese asthmatics with a mean ±SD of 71.73±19.17 ng/ml and 34.5±8.68 ng/ml  respectively (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between ST and FEV1 % of predicted and  positive correlations between ST and age, BMI, and waist circumference among asthmatics. <br></p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mast cells play a role in both obesity and asthma, serum tryptase, being a marker of mast cell activation, could represent a link between them.</p>

DOI

10.17352/oja.000004