Dilek Doğruel

Prevalence of and risk factors for atopic dermatitis: A birth cohort study of infants in southeast Turkey

BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) is most common in the first year of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for AD in a birth cohort of infants from southeast Turkey. METHODS Adana Paediatric Allergy Research (ADAPAR) birth cohort study was derived from 1377 infants who were born in Cukurova University, Medical Hospital, Adana, Turkey between February 2010 and February 2011. At birth, a physical examination was performed, cord blood samples were taken, and the mother completed a baseline questionnaire that provided data on gestational conditions, family history of allergic diseases and environmental exposures. Follow-up visits scheduled at 3, 6, and 12 months included an infant physical examination and an extended questionnaire. Skin prick test was performed and food-specific IgE levels were measured at 6 and 12 months. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed based on confirmatory examination by a physician. RESULTS Of the 1377 infants enrolled, 59 (4.3%) were diagnosed with AD as of 12 months. Maternal allergic disease (ORs 6.28, 95% CI 1.03-38.30; p=0.046), maternal infection during gestation (ORs 3.73, 95% CI 1.25-11.09; p=0.018), and presence of food allergy (ORs 13.7, 95% CI 3.07-61.0; p=0.001) were identified as risk factors for AD. Breastfeeding and cord blood IgE levels were not identified as risk factors. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort we found prevalence of AD as 4.3% during the first year of life. Positive family history of atopic diseases, prenatal infections and presence of food allergy are the risk factors for early presentation of AD.

Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide as a predictor in juvenile idiopathic arthritis progression

In this study, the relation between the nitric oxide (NO) levels in the serum and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and the activation criteria of the disease has been investigated. The study group consisted of 35 JIA-diagnosed patients and 18 healthy children. According to the clinical and laboratory findings, the patients with JIA were divided into two groups, active (group I) and in remission (group II). The healthy children were classified as group III. The activation criteria of the disease were determined for each patient. The serum NO level and FENO level were measured in all the patients. In the group with JIA, correlation was detected between FENO level and number of involved joints and number of joints with limited motion. In addition, correlation was determined between the FENO level and number of involved joints in group I and the serum NO level and activity score in group II. However, it was seen that there is no statistical difference in the serum NO level and FENO level of the patients with JIA and the control group and groups I and II. This study demonstrated the correlation between FENO level and number of involved joints and number of joints with limited motion in patients with JIA. Our results matter in terms of FENO being a noninvasive laboratory marker in following the progression of the disease.

The ADAPAR Birth Cohort Study: Food Allergy Results at Five Years and New Insights

Background: Although food allergy (FA) is often a transient condition during childhood, when and in whom FA will resolve can be affected by many factors. In this study, we analyzed the data at 5 years on 33 children diagnosed with FA in the ADAPAR (Adana Pediatric Allergy Research) birth cohort study in southern Turkey. Methods: Thirty-three infants detected as having FA at the end of their first year in the ADAPAR study were assessed every 6 months until the age of 5 years. Each follow-up included a clinical examination, questionnaire, blood sampling and a skin-prick test. Results: Culprit allergens were cows milk (n = 20), eggs (n = 17), chicken meat (n = 1) and bananas (n = 1). Of the 17 patients with egg allergy, 14 developed complete tolerance and 1 developed partial tolerance (i.e. tolerance to baked food). Of the 20 patients with milk allergy, complete tolerance was observed in 16 and partial tolerance in 1. The mean age of tolerance to egg was 22.4 ± 7.5 months and to cows milk, it was 20.9 ± 1.1 months. Complete tolerance developed in 1 case allergic to chicken meat and in 1 case allergic to banana. Other allergic conditions were also determined: allergic rhinitis in 27.2%, atopic dermatitis in 21.2%, asthma in 9%, urticaria in 9% and drugs in 9%. Conclusions: Our results confirm early and high tolerance rates before school age in children with food allergies that started in infancy. This will help pediatricians to give more informed advice to parents of infants with cows milk or hens egg allergy.

The Trend of Change of Allergic Diseases over the Years: Three Repeated Surveys from 1994 to 2014

Background: Although it is known that there has been an increase in asthma and allergic diseases among school-aged children, results vary between countries. The aim of this study was to examine trends in the prevalence of these diseases in the city of Adana (south Turkey) over the last 20 years based on the results of 3 cross-sectional studies. Methods: Three cross-sectional surveys were performed 10 years apart in south Turkey. Here, we compare the surveys conducted among children between the ages of 6 and 14 years from 1994, 2004, and 2014. The participants were randomly chosen among children attending participating primary schools in Adana. The questionnaire in the first survey contained almost the same questions as the ISAAC. In the 2 latter surveys, we used the ISAAC questionnaire to investigate the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases. Results: A total of 2,334 children in 1994, 3,728 children in 2004, and 3,209 children in 2014 were included in the final analysis. The results showed a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of physician-diagnosed allergic diseases across the years, respectively: asthma (5, 4.6, and 8.9%), allergic rhinitis (8.8, 11.4, and 15.6%), and atopic dermatitis (5, 9.9, and 7%). In contrast, the prevalence of parent-reported current wheeze (16.2, 13.2%) decreased in the last 10 years. Conclusions: Our findings were consistent with the increased prevalence of childhood asthma and other allergic diseases. However, this pattern did not occur in respiratory symptoms.

Evaluation of high resolution computed tomography findings of cystic fibrosis

Background/Aims Morphological changes due to lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) were evaluated using high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and the HRCT scores obtained using the Bhalla scoring system were correlated with those obtained using clinical and laboratory indicators. Methods Medical records of 28 children with CF who underwent chest CT in Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Cukurova University Balcali Hospital between March 2011 and January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data and physical examination, respiratory cultures, pulmonary function tests, and chest HRCT findings were evaluated. Patients were divided into the following two groups according to their forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) values: normal FEV1 (≥ 80% of predicted values) and low FEV1 (< 80% of predicted values). Deep throat or sputum cultures were evaluated for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) and other bacteria. HRCT scans were scored using the Bhalla scoring system. Results No significant correlation was found between the Bhalla scores and sex, age group, or height percentiles. Significant relationships were found between the Bhalla score and weight (p = 0.036) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.032) percentiles below the third percentile, bacterial growth in the sputum/ deep throat cultures (p = 0.009), and presence of PsA (p = 0.004). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the Bhalla score and FEV1 (r = −0.315, p = 0.0272), forced vital capacity (FVC; r = −0.381, p = 0.0178), forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (r = −0.229, p = 0.0431), and BMI (r = −3.368, p = 0.050). Conclusions Chest HRCT is an important diagnostic tool for the pulmonary evaluation of children with CF.

Clinical and genetic profiles of patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia from southeast Turkey: Novel mutations in BTK gene

BACKGROUND X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is characterized by absent or severely reduced B cells, low or undetectable immunoglobulin levels, and clinically by extracellular bacterial infections which mainly compromise the respiratory tract. We aimed to analyze the clinical, immunological and genetic characteristics of 22 male children with XLA. METHODS Twenty-two children with XLA from 12 unrelated families were enrolled in this study. Clinical and demographic features of patients, serum immunoglobulin levels, percentage of B cells and BTK gene mutations were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS We identified 12 different mutations in 22 patients from 12 unrelated families. The most frequent type of mutation was premature stop codon (33.3%). Ten mutations had been reported previously including three missense mutations (c.1774T>C, c.1684C>T, c.83G>T), three premature stop codons (c.1558C>T, c.1573C>T, c.753G>A), two splice-site (c.683-1G>A, c.1567-12_1567-9delTTTG) and two small nucleotide deletions (c.902-904_delAAG, c.179_181delAGA). Two novel mutations of the BTK gene were also presented and included one splice-site mutation (c.391+1G>C) and one premature stop codon mutation (c.1243_1243delG). Six out of 12 mutations of the BTK gene were located in the SH1 domain, two in the PH domain, two in the SH3 domain and two in the SH2 domain. Three patients had a history of severe infection before diagnosis. We did not identify any correlation between severity of clinical symptoms and the genotype. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that mutations in southeast Turkey could be different from those in the rest of the world and molecular genetic tests are an important tool for early confirmed diagnosis of XLA.

Natural history of cow’s milk allergy in Mediterranean area of Turkey

Patients and method Ninety one children with the diagnosis of CMA that were on follow up in Cukurova University, Pediatric Allergy-Immunology Department enrolled to the study. The diagnosis of CMA was made on the basis of a history of symptoms associated with exposure to milk, a positive food challenge, and positive skin prick test and/ or specific IgE. Symptoms and clinical findings, crossreactivity with other proteins, prognosis and risk factors for the persistence were evaluated.

Respiratory findings are not less frequent in food allergic children

Patients and method 136 children with the positive food challenge that were on follow up in Cukurova University, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Division were enrolled to the study. Clinical history, physical examination, skin prick test and food specific IgE levels and clinical outcomes during food challenge were evaluated in all children.. Open food challenge was performed in children younger than 2 years or in older children who refused the food because of different tastes.