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Serum YKL-40 levels declined in properly treated asthma patients

Chitinase-like protein YKL-40 serum levels decreased in patients with asthma after they received appropriate inhaled corticosteroid therapy, according to recent study results.

“Patients who received ICS showed a significant improvement in serum YKL-40, percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and asthma control test compared with patients without ICS,” the researchers wrote.

The investigators randomly studied 103 patients diagnosed with asthma from an outpatient clinic at the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College in China. At study completion, 98 patients were evaluated, with five patients dropping out.

All patients underwent a medical examination and completed an asthma control test questionnaire regarding their ability to control their asthma. Serum YKL-40 and spirometry levels were tested, and the patients were re-evaluated 8 weeks after initial therapy.

Compared with the patients’ median YKL-40 levels measured at study initiation, decreased YKL-40 levels were observed at follow-up (75.2 ng/mL vs. 54.5 ng/mL; P<.001). The researchers wrote that this decrease was influenced by the dosage of ICS.

“Patients receiving low-dose ICS have lower YKL-40 levels and a higher percentages of FEV₁ and asthma control test score at baseline compared to patients receiving medium- to high dose ICS,” researchers wrote. “The patients with elevated levels of YKL-40 had significantly greater corticosteroid use than patients with lower levels.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.