Risk factors for development of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans in children with bronchiolitis

Alejandro J. Colom ^1*, Alejandro M. Teper ¹, William M. Vollmer ² and Gregory B. Diette ³

¹ Hospital de Niños R. Gutierrez, Argentina
² Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, United States
³ Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: acolor{at}intramed.net.

Accepted 15 February 2006

Abstract

Background: Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is an uncommon and severe form of chronic obstructive lung disease in children that results from an insult to the lower respiratory tract.

Methods: We performed a case-control study with 109 cases and 99 controls in children under the age of 3 years to determine risk factors for the development of bronchiolitis obliterans. Participants were evaluated with immunoflourescence viral testing, pulmonary function, and questions to assess tobacco and other exposures.

Results: Bronchiolitis due to adenovirus (odds ratio=49, 95% confidence interval=12-199) and the need for mechanical ventilation (odds ratio=11, 95% confidence interval=2.6-45) were strongly and independently associated with increased risk for bronchiolitis obliterans. Factors not associated with post-infectious BO included child age, gender, and environmental tobacco exposure (either in uterus or during infancy).

Conclusions: We found that adenovirus infection and need for mechanical ventilation are significant risk factors for developing bronchiolitis obliterans in children. Further research is indicated to why these risk factors are so strong and how they may contribute to development of the disease.

Keywords: adenovirus infections, bronchiolitis, respiratory function tests, respiratory insufficiency, mechanical ventilators

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Airwaves

Wisia Wedzicha
Thorax 2006 61: 459. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Lenney, W., Boner, A. L., Bont, L., Bush, A., Carlsen, K-H., Eber, E., Fauroux, B., Gotz, M., Greenough, A., Grigg, J., Hull, J., Kimpen, J., Sanchez Luna, M., de Benedictis, F. M. (2009). Medicines used in respiratory diseases only seen in children. Eur Respir J 34: 531-551 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• (2006). Lucina. Arch. Dis. Child. 91: 876-876 [Full Text]  
• Smith, K J, Fan, L L (2006). Insights into post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans in children.. Thorax 61: 462-463 [Full Text]