Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 162, Number 4, October 2000, 1348-1354

(1 3)--D-Glucan and Endotoxin in House Dust and Peak Flow Variability in Children

JEROEN DOUWES, ARJAN ZUIDHOF, GERT DOEKES, SASKIA van der ZEE, INGE WOUTERS, H. MARIKE BOEZEN, and BERT BRUNEKREEF

Environmental & Occupational Health Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, and Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and Wellington Asthma Research Group, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand

House dust-associated bacterial endotoxins have been shown to be associated with asthma severity, and a similar role has been suggested for fungal (1 3)--D-glucans. In this study the relation between these agents and peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability was investigated in 148 children 7 to 11 yr of age of whom 50% had self- or parent-reported chronic respiratory symptoms. All children self-monitored twice daily their PEF for a period of 16 wk. Dust samples were collected from mattresses and from living room and bedroom floors, and endotoxin and (1 3)--D-glucan were measured in dust extracts. The relations with mean daily PEF variability (Ampl%mean) were investigated by linear regression analysis, adjusting for dust mite allergen levels, presence of pets, and type of floor cover. In unadjusted analyses the levels of both endotoxin and (1 3)--D-glucan per square meter of living room floor were significantly associated with PEF-variability (but not when expressed per gram of sampled dust), particularly in atopic children with asthma symptoms. Adjusted analyses showed the same association for (1 3)--D-glucan but not for endotoxin. Although no associations were found with microbial agent levels in bedroom floor or mattress dust, high levels of (1 3)--D-glucan in living room floor dust apparently increase PEF variability in asthmatic children.

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