ABSTRACT
Background: Periostin has emerged as a novel biomarker in the
pathogenesis of T helper 2-type allergic diseases in the last years. The
aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum periostin
levels with clinical features in children with asthma.
Methods: Children with physician-diagnosed asthma who attended
regularly to an outpatient pediatric allergy and asthma center were
enrolled in the study along with control subjects. Asthma severity and
control status of the patients were evaluated according to recent GINA
guidelines.
Results: A total of 158 children (125 with asthma and 33 age
and sex-matched control subjects) with a median age of 10.2 years (range
5.9-17.0) were enrolled. Asthma severity was mild in 41 (32.8%),
moderate in 63 (50.4%) and severe in 21 (16.8%) children. Children
with asthma had significantly higher periostin levels than controls
(53.1 ± 13.1 vs 43.0 ± 11.2 ng/mL; p < 0.001). The mean serum
periostin levels of children with severe asthma (63.8 ± 10.8) were
significantly higher than in children with moderate asthma (53.3 ± 12.7)
and mild asthma (47.4 ± 11.1) (p < 0.001). Serum periostin
levels were found to be significantly correlated with asthma severity
(Spearman’s rho [r]=0.41, p < 0.001). Results of
multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated an association
between serum periostin levels and asthma severity in children (OR,
1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.15; p <0.001)
Conclusion: Serum periostin levels may serve clinicians in
identifying children with severe asthma.
Keywords: asthma, biomarker, children, periostin, severe
asthma.
Key messages: Periostin, which has emerged as a novel biomarker
in the pathogenesis of T helper 2-type allergic diseases in the last
years, may serve clinicians in the diagnosis and follow-up of children
with severe asthma.