Is the Mycobacteria-Derived Purified Protein Response in Atopic Asthmatic Children Different?

Background: The response to mycobacteria-derived purified protein (PPD) is mediated primarily by T-helper-1 response and is expected to be inhibited in atopic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the PPD response is different in atopic asthmatic children. Methods: 40 atopic asthmatic children (mean age 8.3 ± 4.9 years) and 40 healthy age- and sex-matched children who had received bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination were included in the study. Five PPD units were administered intradermally to all children and were interpreted after 48 h. Results: There was no correlation between serum total IgE level and PPD induration (p = 0.054). The PPD induration was not statistically different between the children who used inhaled corticosteroid and those who did not. Although the PPD positivity (induration ≧5 mm) rate was higher in atopic asthmatic children (50%) than in healthy children (32.5%), the difference was not found to be statistically significant. The PPD induration in atopic asthmatic children (7.41 ± 5.58 mm) was found to be greater than the one in healthy children (5.21 ± 3.39) (p < 0.039). The induration in atopic asthmatic children (5.21 ± 3.77) and healthy children (4.43 ± 2.32) did not show a difference in children who where vaccinated only once with BCG, but it was found to be statistically significantly greater in atopic asthmatic children (12.50 ± 5.90) than healthy children (7.08 ± 4.70) who were vaccinated with BCG twice (p < 0.012). The proportion of having a PPD induration of ≧10 mm was found to be higher in atopic asthmatic children than in the healthy ones (32.5 vs. 12.5%) (p < 0.032). Conclusion: Our data showed that the PPD response was stronger in BCG-vaccinated atopic asthmatic children than in healthy BCG-vaccinated ones.