title: Airway hyper-responsiveness to mannitol provides a good evaluation of atopy in childhood asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and atopy has been previously investigated, but there are still some issues to be clarified. The aim of this study was to assess the link between AHR and mannitol and atopy in asthmatic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 44 children with asthma, aged 6-16 years of age, using skin prick tests (SPTs), serum total and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and the mannitol challenge test (MCT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a good correlation between AHR to mannitol and specific IgE against Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (r = -0.66, p < 0.001) and a weak correlation with specific IgE against dog dander (r = -0.33, p = 0.01) and Aspergillus fumigatus (r = -0.23, p = 0.02). Furthermore, we found a weak correlation between AHR to mannitol and serum total IgE (r = -0.30; p = 0.03), the sum of specific IgE to aeroallergens (r = -0.37, p = 0.01) and the number of positive SPTs (r = -0.31, p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measuring AHR with MCT might provide an accurate evaluation of the degree of atopy in children. The patients with a higher degree of atopy were significantly more reactive to mannitol. In clinical practice, these results indicate that children with asthma who are more atopic may require more intensive treatment strategies to reduce AHR.
authors: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Attanasi
authors: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Rapino
authors: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Marcovecchio
authors: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: N P
authors: NP
authors: Consilvio
authors: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Scaparrotta
authors: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Cingolani
authors: Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Di Pillo
authors: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Chiarelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D008353:Mannitol
keywords: Airway hyper-responsiveness; Asthma; Atopy; Children; Mannitol