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.