Serum Periostin Level Has Limited Usefulness as a Biomarker for Allergic Disease in 7-Year-Old Children.

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have used serum periostin levels as a biomarker of Th2-driven inflammatory responses. However, no population-based study has yet examined the association of serum periostin levels with the allergic status of children.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of periostin as a biomarker for allergy in a group of 7-year-old Korean children.

METHOD: This prospective cross-sectional study examined 451 children (aged 7 years to 7 years and 11 months) from the general pediatric population who attended 6 different schools between June and July 2016. A total of 249 children, all of whom completed the questionnaire and skin prick test and provided blood samples, were included in the final analysis.

RESULTS

The geometric mean serum periostin level was 107.6 ng/mL (95% CI 104.5-110.7). After adjustment for confounding, serum periostin levels were significantly associated with sensitization to poly-allergens (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 1.032, 95% CI 1.006-1.059, p = 0.016) and pollen (aOR 1.020, 95% CI 1.002-1.039, p = 0.026). Serum periostin levels were also associated with eosinophil levels (adjusted β = 0.023, SE = 0.009, p = 0.010), but were unrelated to body mass index, sex, obesity, or presence of an allergic disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest thatserum periostin level may have limited usefulness as a biomarker of allergic disease in children.