INTRODUCTION

The relationship between bronchial hypersensitivity as the key phenomenon ofbronchial asthma and detoxication GSTM1 or GSTT1 gene polymorphism in children with neutrophilic phenotype of this disease remains unclear

MATERIALS AND METHODS

33 children with bronchial asthma of neutrophile phenotype were examined in histamine and dosed physical exercise (running) tests. In addition GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotyping was performed.

RESULTS

Histamine test revealed bronchial hypersensitivity (HTC < 0.3 mg/ml) in 30.7% of the children with GSTMI and/or GSTTI deletions versus 12.5% of those without deletions (P phi < 0.05). The relative risk ofhypersensitivity to histamine (HTC < 0.3 mg/mI) in the presence of deletions was estimnated as 3.1 (95% CI 1.4-6.4), at OR 2.4 (95% CI 1.08-3.1) andAR = 0.18.

CONCLUSION

Children with the neutrophilic phenotype of bronchial asthma having deletions in the GSTT1/GSTM1 system are characterized by bronchial hypersensitivity to histamine and dosed physical exercises.