[Effects of BCG-PSN injection on immune and lung function of asthmatic children complicated with allergic rhinitis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of polysaccharide nucleic acid of BCG (BCG-PSN) injection on immune and pulmonary function in asthmatic children complicated with allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
Thirty-seven cases were separated at random into two groups, the BCG-PSN group (17 cases) was treated with BCG-PSN plus inhaled glucocortisteriods, and the control group (20 cases) was treated with inhaled glucocortisteriods only. The children in both groups were followed up for 6 months to record their lung function, allergic rhinitis scores, frequency of asthmatic attacks and respiratory infection. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-g) and plasma total IgE were detected by using double antibody sandwich ELISA at the beginning and the end of treatment.


RESULTS
In comparison with the control group, after treatment, the levels of IFN-g and the ratio of IFN-g/IL4 in the BCG-PSN group significantly increased, whereas the level of IL-4 and the plasma total IgE significantly decreased (P less than 0.05), while those of the control group had no significant change. The lung function of both groups had significant improvement (p less than 0.05). The frequencies of asthmatic attacks in BCG-PSN and control groups were 0.81 +/- 0.20 vs. 1.72 +/- 0.80, and the difference was statistically significant. The frequencies of respiratory tract infection in BCG-PSN and control groups were 1.15 +/- 0.55 vs. 3.21 +/- 0.73, the difference was significant.


CONCLUSIONS
BCG-PSN may be able to correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and improve the lung function of children with asthma complicated with allergic rhinitis, which suggest that the immune adjusting treatment should be emphasized besides anti-inflammation therapy.
Ji
Jing-Zhi
JZ
Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yet-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Chen
Zhuang-Gui
ZG
Chen
Yan-Feng
YF
Chen
Fen-Hua
FH
Chen
Hong
H
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma