Iron metabolism and peripheral eosinophil count in children with asthma

Amelia Licari; Mara De Amici; Fiorella Barocci; Maria De Filippo; Annalisa De Silvestri; Giorgia Testa; Martina Votto; Giorgio Ciprandi; Gian Luigi Marseglia

doi:10.23750/abm.v95i5.15565

Iron metabolism and peripheral eosinophil count in children with asthma

Authors

Amelia Licari Pediatric Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia; Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1773-6482
Mara De Amici Immuno-Allergology Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinic San Matteo, Pavia
Fiorella Barocci Medicine Laboratory Unit, ASST Rhodense Garbagnate Milanese, Rho, Italy
Maria De Filippo Pediatric Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia; Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2900-9642
Annalisa De Silvestri Scientific Direction, Clinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
Giorgia Testa Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
Martina Votto Pediatric Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia; Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4271-8649
Giorgio Ciprandi Allergy Clinic, Casa di Cura Villa Montallegro, Genoa, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7016-8421
Gian Luigi Marseglia Pediatric Unit, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia; Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3662-0159

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v95i5.15565

Keywords:

iron, asthma, children

Abstract

Background and aim: Iron is a primary component of the human body and exerts many functions, mainly concerning red cells and the immune system. In addition, there is evidence that iron-deficiency anemia is associated with allergic diseases. The present study investigated the possible relationship between iron metabolism and peripheral eosinophils in a general population.

Methods: This retrospective study included 49 children with asthma afferent to a pediatric clinic during the last solar year and evaluated the association between eosinophil count, iron status, and asthma control in 49 children with asthma.

Results: The mean eosinophil count was 346.73 cells/mL. There was a significant difference in age between children with eosinophil counts below and above 300 cells/mL (p=0.02). This difference was particularly evident in females alone when stratified by eosinophil count and sex (p-value of 0.02). There was a slight but positive correlation between the eosinophil count and the ACT score. There was also a mild but negative correlation between the iron status and the ACT score. These results do not support a possible pathogenetic role of iron metabolism on asthma.

Conclusions: The present study did not demonstrate a relationship between iron deficiency and peripheral eosinophil count or asthma control in children with asthma.

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