title: Eosinophilic airway inflammation is increased in children with asthma and food allergies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is associated with food allergies in a significant number of children, with evidence linking allergies to asthma severity and morbidity. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that the eosinophilic lower airway inflammation is higher in asthmatic children with food allergies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to compare the eosinophilic inflammatory markers in asthmatic children with and without food allergies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with asthma, with (n = 22) and (n = 53) without food allergies were included. All subjects were classified according to the GINA guidelines (2009) and had received at least 3 months of anti-inflammatory therapy prior to testing. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide and sputum differential counts were performed using standard techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with asthma and food allergies had significantly higher fractional exhaled nitric oxide median (range) [(22.4 (6.1-86.9) vs. 10.3 (2.7-38.7) (p = 0.01)] and sputum eosinophil percentage [15.5 (5.0-53.0) vs. 2.0 (0-20) (p < 0.001)] compared with asthmatic children without allergies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the children with asthma and food allergies have increased eosinophilic inflammation of the airways.
authors: High Altitude Paediatric Asthma Centre in Misurina, Pio XII Institute, Misurina, Belluno, Italy. nsk4@le.ac.uk
authors: Neeta
authors: N
authors: Kulkarni
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Ragazzo
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Costella
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Piacentini
authors: Attilio
authors: A
authors: Boner
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: O'Callaghan
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Fiocchi
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Kantar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide