Loci in ILR6 Chromosome 11q13.5 Tied to Asthma Risk

Also, exhaled nitric oxide treatment algorithm reduces asthma exacerbations in pregnant women

FRIDAY, Sept. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Two genetic loci in the interleukin-6 receptor (ILR6) gene and on chromosome 11q13.5 near the leucine-rich repeat containing 32 gene (LRRC32) are associated with asthma risk; and a validated exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) treatment algorithm reduces asthma exacerbations in pregnant women, according to two studies published Sept. 10 in the special European Respiratory Society issue of The Lancet.

Manuel A.R. Ferreira, Ph.D., from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues identified novel genetic variants affecting asthma risk in 2,669 patients with asthma and 4,528 controls. Through a genome-wide association study, seven loci were prioritized for replication and tested in an additional 25,358 independent samples. Two loci were found to be associated with asthma risk in the replication cohorts, and reached genome-wide significance in the combined analysis of all available studies: rs4129267 on the ILR6 gene and rs7130588 on the LRRC32 gene.

Heather Powell, M.Med.Sc., from the University of Newcastle and Hunter Research Institute in Australia, and colleagues investigated whether a management algorithm for asthma in pregnancy based on FENO concentration (intervention group) reduced asthma exacerbations more than that based on clinical symptoms (control group). The intervention group showed lower exacerbation rate, improved quality of life, and reduced neonatal hospitalizations compared to the control group.

"Asthma exacerbations during pregnancy can be significantly reduced with a validated FENO-based treatment algorithm," Powell and colleagues write.

Ferreira and colleagues, and two of the study authors from Powell's study, disclosed financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract - Ferreira
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract - Powell
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com