Atopic and non-atopic asthma phenotypes in children

Gülşah Duyuler Ayçin 

Department of Pediatric Allergy Immunology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital Adana, Turkey

Introduction: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease manifested by various clinical phenotypes in children and adults. Two common phenotypes are allergic (atopic) and non-allergic (non-atopic), with more than 50% of asthma in adults, and an estimated 80% of childhood asthma being the allergic type. The aim of this study was to compare the atopic and non-atopic distinctions among patients with asthma between the ages of 5 and 17 by evaluating their clinical features and severity of asthma, and by demonstrating the significance of eosinophilia and IgE values. 

Materials and methods: History, physical examination and laboratory results of patients with asthma were evaluated in this retrospective chart analysis conducted in Erzurum, Turkey. Atopic and non-atopic discrimination were performed, and clinical features, eosinophil count, and total IgE results were compared.  

Results: According to the receiving-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the cut-off value for eosinophil was 395 mm³, and total IgE was 150IU/ml. Values > 395 mm³ in peripheral blood were accepted as the threshold value, and they were significantly higher in the atopic group (p=0.004). A total IgE level > 150IU / mL was accepted as threshold value, and comparing those levels in the atopic and non-atopic groups showed a highly significant difference (p<0.001). Obesity was significantly higher in the non-atopic group (p = 0.04). 

Conclusıon: These results encourage further study with variable phenotypic presentations to better tailor treatment-specific treatment options for children with asthma.