Circulating periostin level in asthmatic pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: Asthma often complicates pregnancy and represents a risk for complications. Periostin is considered as a biomarker of asthma; however, as it also plays a role in normal gestation, pregnancy may influence circulating periostin levels. This is the first study assessing periostin in asthmatic pregnancy. Methods: Plasma periostin levels were investigated in asthma (asthmatic non-pregnant, ANP; N = 19) and asthmatic pregnancy (AP; N = 14), compared to healthy non-pregnant controls (HNP; N = 12) and healthy pregnant women (HP; N = 17). The relationship between periostin levels and asthma control determinants was also evaluated. The diagnostic efficacy of periostin to detect uncontrolled asthma was analyzed using ROC analysis. Results: Plasma periostin levels were similar in the HNP and ANP (55.68 [37.21–67.20] vs. 45.25 [32.67–64.55], p > 0.05), and elevated in the HP (68.81 [57.34–98.84] ng/mL, p = 0.02 vs. HNP) and AP groups (54.02 [44.30–74.94] ng/mL, p = 0.0346 vs. ANP). Periostin levels of the two pregnant groups were similar (p > 0.05). In AP women periostin correlated negatively with FEV₁ (r = −0.5516) and positively with Raw (r = 0.5535; both p < 0.05). Conclusions: Pregnancy itself increases circulating periostin levels and this elevation is detectable in asthmatic pregnancy as well. Although periostin correlates with lung function in asthmatic pregnancy, periostin as a biomarker has to be handled with caution in pregnant patients due to the influence of pregnancy on its plasma level.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• control
• pregnancy
• periostin

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

The study was supported by Hungarian Respiratory Society grant to Ibolya Czaller and by János Bolyai Scholarship of Hungarian Academy of Sciences to Lilla Tamási.