Hua Man-Chin, Chen Chien-Chang, Liao Sui-Ling, Yao Tsung-Chieh, Tsai Ming-Han, Lai Shen-Hao, Su Kuan-Wen, Chen Li-Chen, Chiu Chih-Yung, Yeh Kuo-Wei, Huang Jing-Long
Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
World Allergy Organ J. 2022 May 11;15(5):100633. doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100633. eCollection 2022 May.
This study aimed to investigate whether fecal human beta-defensins (HBD)-2 and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) expression in preterm infants are associated with allergic disease development by age 2 years.
Preterm infants' stool samples were collected at the age of 6 and 12 months postnatally. Information regarding medication exposure histories (antibiotics, antipyretics, probiotics) and physician-diagnosed allergic diseases was obtained using age-specific questionnaires and medical records. We compared the 6-month and 12-month fecal HBD-2 and ECP concentrations between the medication exposure and non-exposure group, respectively, and between children who developed allergic diseases and those who did not by 2 years of age. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate independent variables related to physician-diagnosed allergic diseases by 2 years of age.
Seventy-four preterm infants (gestational age, 31-36 weeks) were included. Fecal HBD-2 levels were significantly increased at 12 months of age among children who developed allergic diseases compared to those who did not (37.18 ± 11.80 ng/g 8.56 ± 4.33 ng/g, = 0.011). This association was more apparent among allergic children given antibiotics (50.23 ± 16.15 ng/g 9.75 ± 7.16 ng/g, = 0.008) or antipyretics (46.12 ± 14.22 ng/g 10.82 ± 6.81 ng/g, = 0.018) during the first year, whereas among allergic children who were previously not exposed to antibiotics or antipyretics, the differences were not significant. Results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that HBD-2 concentration in 12-month stools was an independent indicator associated with physician-diagnosed allergic diseases by 2 years of age (adjusted odds ratio: 1.03 [95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.05], = 0.036). Our data revealed a lack of association between fecal ECP and allergic diseases.
We found that preterm infants who expressed high fecal HBD-2 at 12 months of age were associated with physician-diagnosed allergic diseases by the age of 2 years. Further studies are needed to determine the role of fecal HBD-2 in the development of allergic diseases.
本研究旨在调查早产儿粪便中人β-防御素（HBD）-2和嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白（ECP）的表达是否与2岁时过敏性疾病的发生有关。
在出生后6个月和12个月收集早产儿的粪便样本。使用特定年龄的问卷和病历获取有关药物暴露史（抗生素、退烧药、益生菌）和医生诊断的过敏性疾病的信息。我们分别比较了药物暴露组和非暴露组之间以及2岁时患过敏性疾病的儿童和未患过敏性疾病的儿童之间6个月和12个月时粪便中HBD-2和ECP的浓度。进行单变量和多变量逻辑回归分析以调查与2岁时医生诊断的过敏性疾病相关的独立变量。
纳入了74名早产儿（胎龄31 - 36周）。与未患过敏性疾病的儿童相比，患过敏性疾病的儿童在12个月时粪便中HBD-2水平显著升高（37.18±11.80 ng/g对8.56±4.33 ng/g，P = 0.011）。在第一年使用抗生素（50.
