Periostin levels and asthma
Results of several previous childhood studies have demonstrated an association between serum periostin levels and asthma. Song et al. (9) have found that serum periostin levels were higher in children with asthma and associated with airway hyperreactivity. Inoue et al (10). have also found significantly higher serum periostin levels in children with asthma compared to children without any allergic disease in their cross-sectional study and they indicated the possible role of serum periostin in the diagnosis of childhood asthma. On the other hand, Inoue et al. (11) did not detect any increase in serum periostin levels in school age children with allergic diseases including asthma in comparison to healthy children. The serum periostin levels were found to be significantly higher in children than those in healthy adults. They have speculated that the high baseline levels of serum periostin due to increased bone metabolism in childhood might have masked the possible further increase due to allergic diseases. In our study serum periostin levels were higher in children particularly with moderate and severe asthma.