Serum periostin level in children of preschool age with recurrent wheezing episodes and in healthy children: a cross-sectional study

Background. The level of serum periostin in preschool children with recurrent wheezing episodes has been studied. Objective. To determine the serum periostin level in preschool children with recurrent wheezing episodes, compared to healthy children. Results. 101 children of 3-4 years old took part in the study, 72 of them had recurrent wheezing episodes (more than 3 episodes over the past year) and 29 - healthy individuals. Statistically significant differences in serum periostin level between children with recurrent wheezing episodes and healthy children were not found. The level of serum periostin (median, quartile) is 3.0 (1.8; 4.0) ng/ml in children with recurrent wheezing episodes and 2.7 (1.7; 3.6) ng/ml in healthy children (p=0.296). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.56 (95% CI 041-0.68). Conclusion. The level of serum periostin in children with recurrent wheezing episodes does not differ from the level in healthy children.