Acute Abdomen as a Clinical Presentation of COVID-19-Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Background: On December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread worldwide and became a pandemic. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) due to cytokine release syndrome following COVID-19 presents with various manifestations. We hypothesize that one of the rare manifestations is acute abdomen. Case Presentation. In this case series, eight cases (five girls and three boys) of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement and acute abdomen were reported to be associated with the cytokine storm due to COVID-19 infection. All patients were of Iranian nationality (Caucasian ethnicity), with a mean age of 8.9 years (range 3.5-14). They all presented with fever and acute abdominal pain. Additionally, maculopapular rash and edema of the extremities were common presentations. Free fluid on abdominal ultrasound or computerized tomography (CT) scan was observed in all patients. All cases tested positive for COVID-19. In six cases, laparotomy or abdominal surgery was performed for a diagnosis of acute abdomen, but appendicitis was confirmed in only one case. None of the cases presented with phlegmon. Elevated serum lipase and amylase levels were noted in two cases. Seven patients received corticosteroid pulse therapy. Clinical symptoms improved after one or two doses, and all patients were discharged after 4 weeks of follow-up with no mortality or morbidity. Conclusion: Patients experiencing unexplained acute abdominal pain along with fever, skin rash, and peripheral edema, who had a history of COVID-19 infection prior to or during the episode of acute abdomen symptoms, should be considered to have MIS-C. Furthermore, methylprednisolone pulse therapy could be a safe treatment option, reducing hospitalization duration in this patient population.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and Kawasaki disease; comparison of their clinical findings and one-year follow-up-a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki Disease (KD) have yielded inconsistent results and are lacking in Asian and African countries. This study aimed to compare the laboratory and clinical features, short-term outcomes, and one-year follow-ups of a large cohort of MIS-C and KD patients. METHODS: Data from 176 MIS-C and 56 KD patients admitted to Tehran Children's Medical Center between January 2021 and January 2022 were collected. Patients were followed up until January 2023. RESULTS: While lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were more prevalent in MIS-C (73.2% vs. 20% in KD, p < 0.001), KD patients exhibited a higher median white blood cell count and prevalence of anemia, along with higher fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p < 0.001, respectively). MIS-C patients also exhibited lower ejection fraction, a greater occurrence of pericardial effusion, and a higher incidence of coronary aneurysms and ectasia, and ascites. Echocardiography after seven days of treatment showed a reduction in pathologies for both groups, but it was significant only for MIS-C. After one year, coronary artery abnormalities remained in only six cases. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study highlights differences between MIS-C and KD, including laboratory indices as well as echocardiographic and abdominal ultrasound findings. These findings contribute valuable data on Iranian patients to the existing literature on this topic and have significant implications for accurate diagnosis and improved management of pediatric patients presenting with these conditions.

The role of nailfold capillaroscopy in pediatric patients with Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Nailfold capillaroscopy has been used as a non-invasive diagnostic method for microvasculature evaluation in various rheumatological disorders. The present study aimed to determine the utility of nailfold capillaroscopy in the diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease (KD). METHOD: In this case-control study nailfold capillaroscopy was performed in 31 patients with KD and 30 healthy controls. All nailfold images were evaluated for capillary distribution and capillary morphology such as enlargement, tortuosity, and dilatation of the capillaries. RESULT: Abnormal capillaroscopic diameter was identified in 21 patients from the KD group and 4 patients in the control group. The most common abnormality in capillary diameter was irregular dilatation in 11 (35.4%) KD patients and in 4 people (13.3%) in the control group. Distortions of the normal capillary architecture was commonly seen in the KD group (n=8). A positive correlation was observed between coronary involvement and abnormal capillaroscopic results (r=.65, P<.03). The sensitivity and specificity of capillaroscopy for the diagnosis of KD were 84.0% (95%CI: 63.9-95.5%) and 72.2% (95%CI: 54.8-85.8%), respectively. The PPV and NPV of capillaroscopy for KD were 67.7% (95%CI: 48.6-83.3) and 86.7% (95% CI: 69.3-96.2), respectively. CONCLUSION: Capillary alterations are more common in KD patients compared to control group. Thus, nailfold capillaroscopy can be useful in detecting these alterations. Capillaroscopy is a sensitive test for detecting capillary alternations in KD patients. It could be used as a feasible diagnostic modality for evaluating microvascular damage in KD.

The Efficacy of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy in Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes: A Report of Two Cases.

Background: Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPSs) are a group of autoinflammatory disorders caused by a mutation in the NLRP3 gene. NLRP3 mutations increase inflammasome activation; therefore, IL-1 targeted therapies are frequently used in the aforementioned disorders. Case Presentation. We report two cases of CAPS in which the diagnosis was confirmed by genetic tests and an evaluation of the therapeutic response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents. Conclusion: IL-1 inhibitors are highly effective in treating CAPS patients. Most patients with severe symptoms such as neurologic involvement improve with IL-1 blockade. Anti-TNF agents might be effective in reducing mild manifestation; however, they are not effective in improving more severe complications.

Methylprednisolone pulses as an initial treatment in hyperinflammatory syndrome after COVID-19 in children: evaluation of laboratory data, serial echocardiography and outcome: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Hyper-inflammatory syndrome in children and young adult occur 2-6 weeks after COVID-19 infection or closed contact with COVID-19 persons. In this study, the laboratory data and echocardiography and abdominal ultrasonography assessments were evaluated before and after Methylprednisolone pulse as an initial treatment of hyper-inflammatory syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assessment the clinical manifestations and laboratory data and outcome after methylprednisolone pulse as an initial treatment. METHOD: In this retrospective study, the demographic status, clinical features, laboratory data, echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound, treatment and outcome of 31 pediatric patients under 16 years old, with inflammatory process after COVID-19 were evaluated. The clinical assessments, laboratory data, sonography and echocardiography were evaluated before and after methylprednisolone pulse. The patients were divided in two age group < and ≥ 7 years old and the clinical manifestations were compared with each other. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess the difference in quantitative variables between two groups. To compare pre- and post- treatment values, Wilcoxol test was used. To assess the correlation between qualitative variables chi-square test was used. The level of significant was considered 0.05. These patients with fever and hyper-inflammation features admitted to the referral pediatric rheumatology ward in Children Medical Center of Tehran University of medical sciences, from April 2020 to May 2021 were assessed. RESULT: The mean age ± SD were (5.94 ± 3) and 51.6% (16) patients were male and 48.4% (15) patients were female. The most documented of previous COVID infection were antibody positive in about 27 (87%) patients. Moreover, 1 (3.8%) was PCR positive, 2 (7.7%) were positive in both PCR and serology and 3(11.5%) had closed contact with COVID-19 patients. About 9(29%) of patients were admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). There were significant correlation between days of delay in starting treatment and ICU admission (P-value = 0.02). The mortality rate was negative in patients and no re-hospitalization was documented. There were significant differences (P-value < 0.05) between lymphocytes, platelet, Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase and ferritin before and after treatment. Skin rashes and cardiac involvement totally as carditis (myocarditis, vulvulitis and pericarditis) (33.3%) and coronary involvements (53.3%) were the most prominent initial presentation in patients. There were near significant correlation (P-value = 0.066) between ferritin level and carditis before treatment. Cervical lymphadenopathy was seen significantly more in ≥ 7 years old (P-value = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Multisystem inflammatory system in children as a hyperinflammatory syndrome could be treated with first step methylprednisolone pulse with decreasing inflammation in laboratory data and cardiac involvements and good outcome. Furthermore, the ferritin level may be one of the predictor of severe hyper-inflammatory syndrome leading to aggressive and urgent treatment with methylprednisolone pulse.

Intravenous Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy Versus Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease in Children with Kawasaki Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is often complicated by coronary artery lesion (CAL), including dilatation or aneurysms. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is used with aspirin to prevent CAL in KD. OBJECTIVE: Given that the primary treatment for other vasculitis is the use of corticosteroids, this study has been performed to evaluate the effect of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse (IVMP) therapy in preventing CAL in KD. METHOD: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 40 KD patients aged six months to five years. Patients were randomized into two groups according to the main treatment plan in addition to aspirin: case group (IVMP for three consecutive days and then oral prednisolone for three days) and control group (intravenous immunoglobulin 2 g/kg). Echocardiography was performed for all children at least three times, during the acute phase, two weeks, and two months later. RESULTS: Data analysis at the end of the study was done on 40 patients (20 patients in each group). There were no significant differences in age and sex distribution, mean fever, and acute phase duration, as well as baseline echocardiography in the two groups. The frequency of CAL was 20% in the case group and 45% in the control group, after two weeks (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between two groups in types of coronary artery lesion after two weeks and the frequency and severity of CAL after two months. CONCLUSION: IVMP as initial line therapy effectively control systemic and vascular inflammation and decrease coronary artery damage in KD.

Peripheral Gangerene, an Unusual Presentation of Infantile Kawasaki: A Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosing infantile Kawasaki disease with atypical symptoms is difficult, and it also has higher risk of coronary abnormalities which is one of the most common complications of KD. Other complications such as pericardial effusion, mitral insufficiency, congestive heart failure, myocardial systolic dysfunction, and systemic vasculitis were also reported. Peripheral gangrene and necrosis are among the rare complications of this systemic vasculitis. Case Presentation. We report an 8-month-old girl with prolonged fever, generalized petechial rash, cracked erythematous lips, edema, and coronary ectasia who received two doses of IVIG in another center, but short after her discharge, she started to develop a necrotic plaque on her knee. She was admitted in our hospital, and the repeat echocardiography showed sustained coronary ectasia. She received 3 doses of methylprednisolone pulse therapy and was discharged with aspirin and prednisolone. In the follow-up visits, the coronary ectasia was resolved and the necrotic ulcer was healing with a scar. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of Kawasaki disease and echocardiographic evaluation of the coronary arteries should be considered in young infants with prolonged fever of unknown origin. Peripheral gangrene is a rare but important complication of infantile Kawasaki disease, although the exact mechanism in not fully understood.

Post-mortem Diagnosis of Heme Oxygenase-1 Deficiency by Whole Exome Sequencing in an Iranian Child.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible enzyme involved in the catalysis of heme conversion into biliverdin. We describe a patient with a novel stop-gain mutation in the HMOX1 coding sequence resulting in HO-1 deficiency. A 17-month-old female with fever, tachypnea, and signs of respiratory distress was referred to our center. Four admissions ensued during the eight months follow up. At the first admission, she had massive pericardial effusion without any laboratory findings for tuberculosis, viral infectionsor malignancies.An abdominal ultrasound examination confirmed hepatomegaly.Laboratory findings showed leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, hemolytic anemia, elevated inflammatory markers, increased levels of the hepatic transferase, triglycerides and ferritin as well as decreased level of fibrinogen. Other laboratory investigations were negative blood cultures, normal bone marrow aspiration, and normal serology viral infections. Immunodeficiency and auto-inflammatory syndromes were ruled out. Hepatic biopsy showed iron deposits. The patient was initiated on corticosteroids; however, her clinical condition was progressively deteriorated, and she died of recurrent fever, bleeding, heart failure, and ascites. Post-mortem whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous mutation (exon3: c.A610T, p.K204X) on the HMOX1 gene. The parents were found to be heterozygous for that mutation. The laboratory findings and clinical features of our patient were somehow similar to that of HO-1 deficient cases reported previously, as well as Hmox1 knocked out mice. We speculate that the clinical manifestations of HO-1 deficient patients can be partially dependent on the type of mutation they inherit.

Familial Mediterranean Gene (MEFV) Mutation in Parents of Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever: What Are the Exceptions?

OBJECTIVES: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is one of the most prevalent periodic fever syndromes; MEFV, the responsible gene for the disease, is in the short arm of chromosome16. In the considerable count of the FMF patients, only one mutation is found in the MEFV and parents, who were the obligatory carriers for that mutation, were asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to evaluate these asymptomatic parents in regard to mutation in MEFV gene and similarity between parents and offspring patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, asymptomatic parents of FMF patients enrolled the study were referred to periodic fever clinic or pediatric rheumatology clinic of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The patients should have at least one mutation in MEFV gene and none of them had any family history of autoinflammatory disease. Twelve mutations in MEFV gene were assessed in the parents by Vienna Lab FMF Strip Assay kit by MAS PCR/Reverse hybridization. RESULTS: Forty-three patients and their parents participated in the study. Sixty-three percent (27) of patients were male. Onset of disease symptoms in 31 patients (72%) was before 4 years of old. Nine (21%) of the patients had homozygote, 16 (37%) compound heterozygote, and 17(40%) heterozygote for MEFV mutation; there was a case of complex alleles mutations (2%). M694V/M694V in 4 patients (9%) was the most homozygote genotype, and M694V/R761H in 4 (9%) and E148Q in 7 (16%) were the most compound heterozygote and heterozygote genotype, respectively. M694V, M680I, and E148Q were the most mutation in the parents. Overall, 41 patients had mutations similar to their parents' mutation, except 2 whose parents had no mutation, but a patient did. CONCLUSION: It seems that occurrence of new mutations in offspring is not prevalent among FMF patients and there are other reasons for different clinical presentation in similar mutation carriers. On the other hand, in ethnicities with high prevalence of FMF, new mutation in descendant may occur, infrequently.

Frequency and Type of Hepatic and Gastrointestinal Involvement in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a frequent rheumatology disorder among children. Since hepatic involvement is a common systemic manifestation in lupus, the frequency and type of hepatic involvement were determined in pediatric cases of SLE admitted to Children's Medical Hospital from 2005 to 2014. METHODS AND PATIENTS: In this observational case-series study, 138 pediatric cases of SLE were admitted in Children's Medical Center (a pediatric rheumatology referral center in Tehran, Iran) enrolled from 2005 to 2014 and the outcomes, frequency, and type of hepatic involvement were assessed among them. RESULTS: Hepatic involvement was reported in 48.55% of total SLE patients. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and both enzymes higher than normal upper limits were detected in 8.7%, 5%, and 34.7% of lupus patients, respectively. Increased level of liver enzymes was categorized as less than 100, between 100 and 1000, and more than 1000 levels in 23.1%, 23.1%, and 2.1% of cases. The only gastrointestinal involvement in lupus patients contributing to hepatic involvement was gastrointestinal bleeding. Rising in liver enzymes was detected mostly in lupus patients without gastrointestinal bleeding (52.2% without versus 25.8% with gastrointestinal bleeding, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Approximately half of the pediatric patients suffering from SLE have hepatic involvement. No significant correlation was observed between various organs involvement and abnormal level of liver enzymes.

PDCD1 single nucleotide genes polymorphisms confer susceptibility to juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease in which both the genetic and environmental factors seem to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1, also called PD-1) gene polymorphisms with JSLE susceptibility in Iranian population. In this case-control association study, three PDCD1 SNPs, including PD-1.1 G/A, PD-1.3 G/A and PD-1.9 C/T were genotyped in 50 Iranian patients with JSLE and 202 healthy unrelated controls, using PCR-RFLP method. The PD-1.1 A allele was found to be more frequent in the case group compared with controls (6% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.024). Moreover, the GG genotype was less frequent in cases than in controls (88% vs. 97%, p = 0.021). The other PDCD1 SNPs did not show association. At the haplotypic level, no significant differences was recognized between the two groups of case and control neither for the GAC (PD-1.1 G, PD-1.3 A, PD-1.9 C) nor for the GGC haplotype (PD-1.1 G, PD-1.3 G, PD-1.9 C). Our findings support the influence of the PD1.1 A SNP on the development of JSLE in Iranian population.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha single nucleotide polymorphisms in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a multi-system autoimmune disorder of unknown origin. Given the importance of the contribution of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), towards the pathogenesis of JSLE, this study was performed to assess TNFA gene polymorphisms in a case-control study. METHODS: Fifty nine patients with JSLE were enrolled in this study as case group and compared with healthy control subjects. The frequency of alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes of TNFA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions -308 and -238 were evaluated, using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers method. RESULTS: The G allele at position -238 in TNFA promoter region was significantly more frequent in patients with JSLE than in the healthy controls (P value<0.001), while the frequency of A allele at the same position was significantly lower than controls. Furthermore, a significant positive association for G/G genotype at the same position was detected in patients' group compared with control subjects (P value<0.001). The GA haplotype of TNFA (positions -308, -238) was significantly less frequent in case group than in controls (P value<0.001), while GG was the most frequent haplotype for TNFA in the patient group, compared to controls (P value<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms may influence susceptibility to JSLE. Particular TNFA gene variants are associated with JSLE and could be used as a genetic marker for susceptibility to JSLE.

Morbidity and Mortality in Iranian Children with Juvenile Systemic Lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a common rheumatologic disorder that involves multi organ systems. Prognosis of lupus in children may be poorer than in adults. In this study, we determined mortality and morbidity rates in the pediatric SLE in Iran. METHODS: In a cross sectional study, we evaluated 120 children with SLE who had registered in our pediatric rheumatology database within 2004-2010. Data including sex, age, remission, age at the time of diagnosis, age at the time of study, various types of organ involvement, mortality and remission were extracted from this database. Findings : From 120 cases, 77% (92 cases) were females and 23% (28 cases) males (F:M=3.3). Mean follow up period was 56±32 months and mean age at the time of manifesting disease 10.34±2.9 years. Mortality rate was 10% (12 cases) in our investigation. Musculoskeletal involvement showed significant difference between various age groups (P<0.01), that was more frequent in group of 7 years and older. Frequency of oral ulcer and ophthalmic involvement in boys was significantly higher than in girls (P<0.05). Frequency of cardiovascular involvement (P<0.01) and renal involvement (P<0.01) was significantly higher in the patients who had no remission. There was a significant association between mortality rate and cardiac (P<0.02, OR=4.9), pulmonary (P<0.01, OR=10.167) and liver (P<0.05, OR=1.19) involvement. CONCLUSION: In our investigation 1-year survival rate was 97% and 5-year survival rate 89%. Liver, cardiac and pulmonary involvements have an association with higher mortality in JSLE patients.

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis and Cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) Syndrome in Iranian Children First Report of Iranian Periodic Fever and Autoinflammatory Registry (IPFAIR).

OBJECTIVE: The periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is a nonhereditary idiopathic febrile syndrome belonging to the group of autoinflammatory diseases. No longtime sequel was reported in this disease. Early diagnosis can lead physicians to treatment of this disorder with a short course steroid application and provide satisfaction of the patient's family. METHODS: This study is a prospective review of patients diagnosed with PFAPA syndrome who were registered in Iranian Periodic Fever and Autoinflammatory Registry (IPFAIR) through periodic fever clinic in the Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence in Tehran, Iran from January 2013 to March 2014. FINDINGS: One hundred thirty patients were registered in our databases. Twenty-one (16.1%) patients including 15 males and 6 females had PFAPA. Normal growth was seen in all patients. The median age at onset was 18 months. The mean duration of fever was 4 days and the mean duration of intervals between fever episodes 21 days. Along with fever, all patients had characteristic symptoms. All patients were asymptomatic between fever episodes. Steroid was used in all patients and causing immediate reduction by 84.61%. Two patients received both steroid and colchicine because of their clinical feature and positive laboratory tests for PFAPA and familial Mediterranean fever. No patient received biological therapy or a tonsillectomy. CONCLUSION: The long diagnostic delay of PFAPA gives cause to concern indicating a need for greater awareness of the disease so that the diagnosis may be made timely.

Interleukin-6, interleukin-1 gene cluster and interleukin-1 receptor polymorphisms in Iranian patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a polygenic, autoimmune disorder of unknown origin. As proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family, seem to contribute to the pathogenesis of JSLE, this investigation was performed to assess the associations of particular single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-6 and IL-1 genes in a case-control study. METHODS: Fifty nine JSLE cases were recruited for this study as the patient group, and were compared against 140 healthy, unrelated, control subjects. Using the polymerase chain reaction with the sequence-specific primer method, genotyping was carried out for the IL-6 gene at positions -174 and nt565, as well as the IL-1α gene at position -889, the IL-1ß gene at positions -511 and +3962, the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) gene at position Pst-I 1970, and the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene at position Mspa-I 11100. RESULTS: RESULTS of the analyzed data revealed a remarkable, positive association for the promoter sequence of the IL-1ß gene at position -511 for T/T in the patient group compared with healthy controls (P value, 0.03). Furthermore, a significant negative association was found between the T/C genotype at the same position on the IL-1ß gene in juvenile SLE (P value, 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: cytokine gene polymorphisms might play a role in the pathophysiology of JSLE. Particular IL-1 gene variants could affect individual susceptibility to JSLE.

Evaluation of 10-year experience of Wegener's granulomatosis in Iranian children.

Wegener's granulomatosis or granulomatosis polyangiitis (GPA) is an uncommon chronic systemic vasculitis in children. The aim of this study was to describe pediatric patients with GPA in Iran. We studied records of all patients with GPA diagnosis who were referred to all Iranian Pediatric Rheumatology Division from 2002 to 2011. A total of 11 patients (5 females and 6 males) enrolled in this study. In children less than 15 years old, the prevalence of GPA is 0.6 per million. The mean age of GPA diagnosis was 11 years and average delay diagnosis was 20 months. Mortality rate was 18.1% due to pulmonary vasculitis and infection. The most common organ system involvement was upper and lower respiratory tract involvement (81.8% and 63.9%, resp.). Other common manifestations were renal (36.3), skin (27.2%), and eye involvement (18.2%).

Evaluation of correlation between airway and serum inflammatory markers in asthmatic patients.

CONTEXT: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases all over the world, resulting from a state of persistent sub-acute inflammation of the airways. Beside local inflammation, systemic inflammation is also present, which can be shown by increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). One of the most important cells in this disease is eosinophil, and sputum eosinophilia is used for its diagnosis. AIMS: The purpose of the present study was to compare and evaluate the correlation between CRP level and sputum eosinophilia in asthmatic and control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 61 patients suffering from mild-to-moderate asthma participated in this study. They were divided into two groups based on whether they used inhaled steroid or not. Sputum was induced by ultrasonic nebulizer, and then samples of peripheral venous blood were collected to measure peripheral cell count and CRP by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thirty-seven healthy subjects were selected and their blood samples were taken. Thirty-seven healthy subjects were selected and their blood samples were taken. RESULTS: Thirty asthmatic patients in user group (14 females/16 males) with the mean age of 39.4±9.37 years, 31 asthmatic patients in non-user group (13 females/18 males) with the mean age of 35.5±8.87 years, and 37 healthy controls (17 females/20 males) were included in our study. The mean serum concentration of CRP was 2.6 µg/mL, 3.32 µg/mL, and 1.16 µg/mL in user, non-user, and control groups, respectively. Compared to healthy controls, serum concentrations of high sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) significantly increased in the non-user group (P=0.0001), and user group as well. (P=0.016). The number of sputum eosinophils and peripheral blood eosinophils significantly increased in the non-users compared to the healthy controls (P=0.0001, P=0.003, respectively). In the non-user group, serum hs-CRP levels correlated negatively with FEV(1) and positively with numbers of sputum eosinophils, which was not statistically significant. Atopy status, age, and sex did not affect hs-CRP levels in both asthmatic groups. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that serum concentrations of hs-CRP significantly increased in asthmatic patients, and in the steroid-native group it partly correlated with FEV(1) and numbers of sputum eosinophils. It suggests that serum hs-CRP can indirectly indicate the degree of airway inflammation.