RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The role of IL-33, a member of the IL-1 family, in airway hyperresponsiveness and asthma has still to be fully understood. OBJECTIVES: This study is aimed at investigating serum IL-33 in children with asthma and its association with asthma severity. METHODS: This age- and sex-matched case-control study comprised 61 children with asthma and 63 healthy controls. The mean age of the participants was 9.21 years (range: 6-14). Serum IL-33 was measured using ELISA and was compared between children with asthma and controls. In addition, the association of serum IL-33 with asthma severity was investigated. RESULTS: The level of serum IL-33 was significantly higher in children with asthma than in controls (15.17 ± 32.3 vs. 0.61 ± 2.16 pg/ml; p = 0.028). It was significantly increased proportionately to asthma severity, namely 9.92 ± 30.26 pg/ml in children with mild asthma, 13.68 ± 29.27 pg/ml in children with moderate asthma and 31.92 ± 41.45 pg/ml in children with severe asthma (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Serum IL-33 is increased in children with asthma and is associated with disease severity.