2017 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 22-27
Wheezing illness with viral respiratory infection in infants is one of the important risk factors for developing bronchial asthma. Lower respiratory tract infections, especially with RSV, HRV or both, induce early wheezing. Recurrent wheezing has been reportedly linked to pronounced atopic characterization, environmental factors, and genetics. However, no biomarkers for prediction of recurrent wheezing are available for infants experiencing their first episode of wheezing. Therefore, the biomarkers that could be obtained with noninvasive techniques should be urgently identified. Although TSLP, IL-25, IL-33, and Th2 cytokines were known to play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma we speculated that another factors, which could induce severe airway inflammation, could be involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent wheezing before developing asthma. We very recently reported that MIP-1α obtained from nasopharyngeal aspirates could be a biomarker for prediction of recurrent wheezing. The efficacy of palivizumab and vaccination to RSV in prevention of asthma development after RSV infection in premature infants have been reported. However, they have not been in practical use yet. Further research would be required to identify biomarkers for predicting development of asthma after viral wheezing illness.
