الفهرس 
Bronchial AsthmaOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized
by episodes or attacks of impaired breathing. Symptoms are caused by
inflammation and narrowing of small airways and include shortness of
breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. Asthma is a common
cause of morbidity and even mortality especially in young children.
YKL-40 is secreted by macrophages and neutrophils, which
serve in the primary defense mechanisms against invading pathogens.
It has been suggested that YKL-40 could act as a chitin sensor,
switching on innate defenses, helping to direct macrophages to the site
of invasion and to regulate the inflammatory response as a
consequence of infection.
Thus, there is a need for specific biomarkers to detect asthma as
soon as possible and to initiate the correct clinical treatment.
The aim of this study is to investigate serum YKL-40 in
children with bronchial asthma.
This study was conducted on 90 children at pediatric
Pulmonology clinic and emergency department of Menoufia
University Hospital in the period between June 2018 and January
2019.
Our study included 60 asthmatic children, their age ranged from
6 to 16 years and were divided into two groups: group 1: 30 asthmatic
children (in between attack), group 2: 30 asthmatic children (during
exacerbation). Control group included 30 apparently healthy age,
sex,socioeconomic status matched children.
Summary
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Each child in this study was subjected to:
1- Full history taking.
2- Anthropometric measures.
3- Through clinical examination.
4- Investigations
A ) Chest x ray (if needed)
B ) Pulmonary function test in the form of PEFR. (zan 100)
C) Complete blood count using Coulter Elecrtronic Counter.
D) Serum YKL-40 by ELISA method.
Statistical analysis was done , our results revealed that:
No statistical significant differences as regard age, sex and
family size between the studied groups but there was significant
differences as regard to residence, parent education and family
history of atopy.
No statistical significant difference between patients and control
as regard to anthropometric measures (weight ,height and BMI)
In our study, we found that both asthmatic groups had a
statistically significant low hemoglobin level when compared to
the controls.
Our results showed that there was a highly significant increase in
eosinophilic and neutrophilic count among asthma than control
groups.
In our study, we found that our patients had a highly significant
decrease in pulmonary function (PEFR level) when compared to
Summary
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the controls. In asthmatic groups, PEFR decrease with increasing
severity of asthma.
In the present study all the asthmatic groups (stable and
exacerbating) had higher serum concentrations of YKL-40 than
the control group which was statistically significant.
This study showed higher level of YKL-40 in exacerbating group
than cases in stable group, so it is beneficial in assessing asthma
severity.
Our results showed that there was highly significant positive
correlation between YKL-40 level and eosinophilc count but
showed highly significant negative correlation between YKL-
40 levels and PEFR in both asthmatic groups.
Conclusion
Circulating YKL-40 protein was found in increased quantities in
patients with asthma.