The susceptibility to atopy and pulmonary prognosis of patients at preschool ages who were hospitalized and followed up for the respiratory distress in neonatal period

Aim: In this study, we aimed to determine the atopic susceptibility and pulmonary functions in patients at preschool ages who were followed up with respiratory distress in neonatal period.Materials and Methods: 40 male and 41 female, total 81cases aged between 36-84 months (mean± SD=70±10.5 months) included in the study. 50 cases who were followed up with respiratuary distress in neonatal period constituted the study group and 31 cases who were followed up with physiologic hiperbilirubinemia in the same period included in the control group. To evaulate the respiratory functions of the cases pulmonary function tests and PA lung X-Ray were performed. Total IgE and specific IgE (Phadiatop) levels for both inhalant and food allergens were measured. Skin prick tests were performed to all patients.Results: Total IgE levels were found 99.6±119.46 IU/ml (min-max, 17-464 IU/ml) and 33,37±18,9 IU/ml (min-max, 17-86 IU/ml) for the study group and control group, respectively. The serum total IgE levels of the study group were found higher than those of the control group and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.02). In the study group, there was atopic asthma in 5(1%), non atopic asthma in 4 (8 %), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in 2 (4%), atopic dermatitis in 2 (2%) and allergic rhinitis in 2 (4 %) of the 50 patient; one patient had no clinical symptoms or findings although he was found atopic. When total 50 patient were evaluated regarding to atopy, 10 patient (20%) were appreciated as atopic. In control group, in one out of 31 patients (3,2%), atopy tests were found positive without any clinical symptom or findings. The number of atopic cases in the study group were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). Although FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and PEF values of patients belonging to the study group were lower than those of the control group, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Surfactant therapy, antenatal steroid usage and cigarette exposure were not found to have any effect on the results of pulmonary function tests. In the study group, when compared the pulmonary functions test values of patients required mechanic ventilation with who did not required, only PEF values were significantly lower in the first group (p<0.05).Conclusion; We found that the patients followed up with respiratory distress in neonatal period have been more diagnosed as atopic diseases (allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis) , non atopic asthma and BPD in comparison to the healthy control group.Key Words: Respiratuar distress, asthma, atopy, bronchopulmonary dysplasia.