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Less Air Pollution Leads to Rapid Reduction of Airway Inflammation and Improved Airway Function in Asthmatic Children
- Source :
- Pediatrics. 123:1051-1058
- Publication Year :
- 2009
- Publisher :
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 2009.
-
Abstract
- OBJECTIVE. Air pollution can promote airway inflammation, posing significant health risks for children with chronic respiratory problems. However, it is unknown whether this process is reversible, so that limiting pollution will benefit these children. We measured the short-term response of allergic asthmatic children exposed to a real-life reduction in outdoor air pollution by using noninvasive biomarkers of airway inflammation and function.PATIENTS AND METHODS. Thirty-seven untreated allergic children with mild persistent asthma were recruited from a highly polluted urban environment and relocated to a less polluted rural environment. Air pollution, pollen counts, and meteorological conditions were carefully monitored at both sites. Nasal eosinophils, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, peak expiratory flow, and urinary leukotriene E4 were measured first in the urban environment and then again 7 days after relocation to the rural environment.RESULTS. One week after relocation to the rural environment, we measured, on average, a fourfold decrease in nasal eosinophils and significant decrease in fractional exhaled nitric oxide. We also noted an improvement in lower airway function, reflected by highly significant increase in peak expiratory flow. In contrast, mean urinary leukotriene E4 concentration remained unchanged after 1 week of exposure to the rural environment.CONCLUSIONS. Better air quality is associated with a rapid reduction of airway inflammation in allergic asthmatic children. Nasal eosinophils and fractional exhaled nitric oxide are sensitive indicators of this effect, and their rapid decline is paralleled by improved airway function measured by peak expiratory flow. Leukotriene synthesis has a more variable response to environmental modifications.
- Subjects :
- Male
Rural Population
Allergy
Urban Population
Urinary system
Climate
Air pollution
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
medicine.disease_cause
Leukocyte Count
chemistry.chemical_compound
Air Pollution
Respiratory Hypersensitivity
medicine
Humans
Expiration
Respiratory system
Bronchitis
Child
Air quality index
Asthma
Leukotriene
Leukotriene E4
business.industry
Airway inflammation
medicine.disease
Eosinophils
Nasal Mucosa
Treatment Outcome
Italy
chemistry
Anesthesia
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Immunology
Exhaled nitric oxide
Female
Lung Volume Measurements
Airway
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10984275 and 00314005
- Volume :
- 123
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Pediatrics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cf8ce30268051926dc94034419ac4232
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-1153