A Study of serum Periostin Levels among South Indian Asthmatics

Abstract

newlinePeriostin is an extracellular matrix protein and a downstream molecule of interleukin 13 Periostin in serum can reflect eosinophilic airway inflammation airway remodelling and steroid resistance in asthmatics on inhalational corticosteroids However the clinical utility of these biomarkers is limited because very few studies are available with respect to periostin levels in Indian asthmatics Hence this study was carried out To compare the serum periostin level of asthmatics with that of healthy adult volunteers and To estimate the correlation between serum periostin and lung function parameters and inflammatory mediators in asthmatics This longitudinal study was carried out in 150 asthmatics aged between 18 and 60 years on inhalational corticosteroids and 50 healthy individuals who served as the control group After procuring informed consent pulmonary function test and six minute walk test were done on a quarterly basis for a period of one year The blood samples were collected to assess absolute eosinophil count serum periostin and interleukin 13 at baseline and at the end of the study The median IQR of serum periostin levels in ngml of asthmatics 25 point 28 14 point 69 to 41 point 49 was elevated and showed a statistically significant difference p equal to 0 point 000 as compared to healthy volunteers13 point 2 8 point 8 to 28 point 1 The study showed a negative correlation between periostin and PFT parameters and a positive correlation with absolute eosinophil count and IL to 13 Serum periostin could possibly be considered as a marker of steroid hypo to responsiveness in asthmatics and may prove to be superior to interleukin to 13 for the purpose. Keywords Asthma Periostin Interleukin to 13 eosinophil six to minute walk test newline newline