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Telomere length was similar in school‐age children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and allergic asthma
Author(s) -
Henckel E,
Svenson U,
Nordlund B,
Berggren Broström E,
Hedlin G,
Degerman S,
Bohlin K
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.14294
Subject(s) - bronchopulmonary dysplasia , medicine , exhaled nitric oxide , asthma , spirometry , telomere , inflammation , pulmonary function testing , pediatrics , immunology , gestational age , pregnancy , dna , genetics , biology
Aim Inflammation is a major factor in the pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia ( BPD ), and it contributes to accelerated telomere shortening and cellular ageing. This study aimed to determine its effect on telomere length and lung function in school‐aged children born preterm with BPD . Methods We examined 29 children with BPD , born preterm in Stockholm county 1998–99, along with 28 children with allergic asthma born at term matched for age and gender. At 10 years of age, we measured relative telomere length ( RTL ) in blood by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, lung function by spirometry and inflammation by fractional exhaled nitric oxide and blood cytokines. Results RTL was not different in preterm born with BPD compared to term born children with asthma. The gender effect was strong in both groups; girls had significantly longer median RTL than boys (1.8 versus 1.5, p < 0.01). Short RTL was associated with low forced expiratory flow, also after adjusting for gender, but was not affected by severity of BPD or ongoing inflammation. Conclusion Telomere length was similar in 10‐year‐old children born preterm with a history of BPD and term born children with allergic asthma. However, impaired lung function and male gender were associated with short telomeres.