title: May T1 diabetes mellitus protect from asthma?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may be associated with allergy. It was previously reported that >20% of children with T1DM had allergic rhinitis (AR), but none was asthmatic. This finding was surprising as allergic rhinitis is frequently associated with asthma and asthma prevalence is about 10% of the general paediatric population. Thus, it was hypothesized that T1DM could protect from asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the pulmonary function and the response to bronchodilation testing in children, suffering from T1DM with associated AR, comparing them with a control group of children with AR alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty children with T1DM and AR were compared with 59 children with AR alone; spirometry and bronchodilation testing were performed in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in both "at baseline" and after bronchodilation testing about FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75 values. However, changes in "post-bronchodilator" values of FEF25-75 (ΔFEF25-75) were significantly higher in children with AR alone than in children with T1DM and AR (p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study could sustain the hypothesis that T1DM in children suffering also from AR might exert a protective effect of preventing the possible evolution in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tosca
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silòvestri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Annunzio
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorini
authors.forename: Giovanni Arturo
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens