All issues > Volume 47(8); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(8):873-878. Published online August 15, 2004.

Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness and Atopy in 6-8 Year Old Children According to the History of Wheezing in Early Childhood

Jinho JH Yu¹, Young Y Yoo¹, Hee H Kang¹, Young Yull YY Koh¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Young Yull YY Koh ,Email: kohyy@plaza.snu.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: It is becoming generally recognized that wheezing in early childhood is a heterogeneous condition and does not always develop into asthma. This study aimed to determine characteristics of wheezing phenotypes in early childhood and investigate their relation to asthma.
Methods
: Two hundreds and sixty 6-8 year old children with past or present wheezeing were enrolled, and their history of wheezing was examined through medical records. Forty-three age- matched children who had never suffered from wheezing served as controls. Each subject underwent methacholine bronchial challenge and skin prick tests with airbone allergens.
Results
: Forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1) % predicted value was significantly lower in early-onset persistent wheezers(EP group) and late-onset wheezers(LW group) than in non-wheezers (NW group)(P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). EP and LW groups demonstrated enhanced bronchial hyperresponsiveness(BHR), compared with early-onset transient wheezers(ET group) and NW group(all P<0.001). But there was no significant difference between the ET and NW groups. Atopy was significantly more prevalent in EP and LW groups than ET and NW groups, and serum IgE levels also showed similar figures(all P<0.001).
Conclusion
: Persistent wheezing with early childhood onset and late-onset wheezing are associated with high levels of atopy and BHR. It suggests that these two wheezing phenotypes are more closely related to asthma than transient wheezing phenotype.

Keywords :Wheezing phenotype, Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, Atopy