The relationship of serum interleukin-13 to asthma control in Nigerian population

• Published in: IP Indian Journal of Immunology and Respiratory Medicine Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 205 - 210
• Main Authors: Fehintola Awopeju, Olayemi, Salawu, Lateef, Adeoye Adedeji, Tewogbade
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 28.12.2020
• ISSN: 2581-4214; 2581-4222
• DOI: 10.18231/j.ijirm.2020.059

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a major contributor to type-2 inflammation in asthma. Asthma control is the extent to which manifestation of disease have been reduced or eradicated by treatment, and it is the main therapeutic goal. However, the link between IL-13 and asthma control has not been extensively studied. We therefore determined if serum IL-13 was associated with asthma control in patients presenting to a tertiary center in Nigeria. Eighty-two adults with physician confirmed asthma, participated in this cross-sectional study. All participants had assessment of asthma control by asthma control test (ACT), and serum IL-13 assay by a commercial ELISA kit; spirometry and skin prick test were also assessed. Correlation between ACT scores and serum IL-13 assay was assessed by spearman’s correlation coefficient. There were 59 females (72%), mean age was 43.4 years (SD16.3) and mean duration of asthma symptoms was 19years (SD=13.4), median (IQR) ACT score was 18.0(13.0-22.0) and median (IQR) serum IL-13 was 4.0(3.3 4.4) pg/ml. Out of the 82 participants, 49(59.8%) had uncontrolled asthma (ACT≤20). Serum IL-13 correlated inversely with ACT, rho= -0.218, p=0.025. The serum IL -13 median (IQR) concentration did not differ significantly between non-atopic 4.1(3.7-4.4) pg/ml and atopic 3.8(3.2-4.4) pg/ml; p=0.159 asthmatics. Serum IL-13 may be a useful biomarker to assess asthma control in asthmatics.