Investigation of markers of allergic sensitization and viral infections in children with allergy and asthma.

Rūta Dubakienė,Vilija Rubinaitė,Aurelija Žvirblienė,Odilija Rudzevičienė,Palmira Rudalevičienė,Indrė Dalgėdienė,Malvina Petronytė,Dalia Dubakaitė

doi:10.6001/actamedica.v24i3.3548

Rūta Dubakienė, Vilija Rubinaitė + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.6001/actamedica.v24i3.3548

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Abstract

Background.Allergic diseases are the most prevalent chronic diseases in the developed countries. It is believed that early allergic sensitization and respiratory viral infections play an important role in the development of allergic diseases and asthma.Methods.The current study investigated the correlation between asthma, allergy, and various markers – allergen-specific IgE, IgG4 and IgA, ECP, IgM, and IgG antibodies against respiratory viruses hRSV and hPIV1-4 – in blood serum samples from 80 children (mean age 5.2 years) recruited from the Lithuanian birth cohort. Children were divided into three groups according to their diagnosis: asthma (n = 25), allergy without asthma (n = 14), and control group (n = 41).Results.Based on retrospective data, airway infections and bronchitis by the age of two years were associated with asthma in later childhood. The presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against hRSV and hPIV1–4 at the age of five years were not associated with asthma and allergy: a high rate of persistent or past respiratory viral infections was revealed in all three groups. Among allergic children, increased levels of allergen-specific IgE and d1-specific IgG4 were determined.Conclusion.The current study provides new insights into the relationships between allergic sensitization and respiratory virus infections in children.

Highlights

Allergic diseases, including allergic asthma, are among the most prevalent chronic diseases in the developed countries
We have demonstrated that healthy children and those currently diagnosed with asthma differed according to previous respiratory infections (VRTI) and bronchitis at the age of two years
The current study provides insights into the associations between allergy sensitization, respiratory virus infections, and the progression of allergy and asthma in the Lithuanian birth cohort

Summary

Introduction

Allergic diseases, including allergic asthma, are among the most prevalent chronic diseases in the developed countries. Around one-third of infants who have acute wheezing develop recurring wheezing, indicating that viral respiratory illnesses in early life may promote asthma [6]. Infants who develop virus-induced wheezing episodes are at an increased risk for subsequent asthma, most acute wheezing illnesses in infancy resolve with no long-term sequelae [3]. Indicators of an increased risk for developing asthma include wheezing episodes caused by respiratory viral infections and the development of atopic features such as atopic dermatitis, allergen-specific IgE for food or inhalant allergens (e.g., house dust, mites, cat or dog dander), and blood eosinophilia [4,5,6]. It is believed that early allergic sensitization and respiratory viral infections play an important role in the development of allergic diseases and asthma

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