Transforming growth factor beta-1 in early childhood wheezers

Abstract EN

Background: Wheezing in infancy and early childhood is very common.

Aims: The present study aimed at measuring the serum TGF - pi level in early childhood wheezers and in matched healthy controls, to evaluate whether there is any difference between them.

Methods: Sixty infants and young children aged four months to three years who presented with frequent recurrent wheezing and twenty age-and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled.

Patients were further subdivided into forty one recurrent wheezers at higher risk for developing asthma later in childhood (group 1) and nineteen children at lower asthma development risk ( group 2) according to the Clinical Index to Define Asthma Risk.

Serum TGF - pi was estimated using ELISA technique.

Peripheral eosinophil count and total serum IgE were also estimated .

Results: Mean serum TGF - pi was significantly higher in patients ( 29.13±14.30 ng/ml) than controls (13.30 ± 4.22 ng/ml) (P = 0.001), mean serum TGF - pi was significantly higher in group 1 (34.76 ±13.78 ng/ml) compared to group 2 (17.68 ± 4.63 ng/ml) (P = 0.000).

There was a significant positive correlation between absolute eosinophil count and serum TGF- pi in cases (P<0.05).

Conclusion: serum TGF - pi is increased in early childhood wheezers, and it is more elevated in infant wheezers who are at higher risk to develop asthma later in their childhood.