[Serum levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 in infants and young children with recurrent wheezy bronchitis].

: Clinical symptoms, IgE, and eosinophil counts are insufficient for establishing diagnosis of asthma in young children. It has been suggested that other serum markers might be useful for supporting diagnosis. The aim of the study was to determine serum levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 in young children with recurrent wheezy bronchitis. We investigated if there was a relationship between those markers and the maintenance clinical symptoms during a 2-year follow-up period. The study involved 30 young children (average age--22.5 months) with recurrent wheezy bronchitis. Control group consisted of 15 healthy children at the same average age. The serum levels of IL-10 (p<0.0006) and IL-12 (p<0.000005) were significantly increased and the serum level of IL-4 was significantly decreased (p<0.00009) in children with wheezing compared with healthy control. However the serum level of IL-10 (p<0.004, R=0.5) and IL-12 (p<0.001, R=0.54) was positively correlated with a number of episodes wheezing in the past. Children with wheezing and skin rash showed a significantly higher level of IL-4 (p<0.02) and lower levels of IL-10 (p<0.0008) and IL-12 (p<0.005) compared with children without skin rash. No statistically significant differences in serum levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 were observed between children with persistent wheezing during a 2-year follow-up period and children without respiratory symptoms. This study suggested a potential role cytokines in recurrent wheezing, but follow-up of the children is needed to evaluate the prognostic value of serum cytokines for development asthma in later childhood.