vv Open Journal of Asthma DOI CC By 017 Citation: Abdel Gawad TA, Kamel TB, Abd Al-Aziz MM, Abou-Sekin TA, Ramzy MF (2017) Is Serum Tryptase a Valuable Marker for Obesity-Bronchial Asthma Interrelationship in Children? Open J Asthma 1(1): 017-020. Clinical Group Abstract Background: Asthma among obese represents a unique phenotype. Mast cells are more abundant in obese. Serum tryptase (ST) is a marker of mast cell numbers or activity. Since obesity and asthma have been linked in epidemiological studies, a possible higher mast cell activity in obesity could be a factor between the two conditions. This study was to investigate ST and its potential association between obesity and childhood asthma. Methods: Study recruited 60 asthmatic children, their age ranged from 5-16 years. They were divided according to BMI centile to 30 obese and 30 non-obese asthmatics. Thirty healthy non-asthmatic, non- atopic and non-obese children; were included as a healthy control. Serum tryptase, atopy (skin prick test reactivity) and spirometry were assessed. Results: Frequency of atopy and positive skin prick test significantly increased among obese more than non-obese asthmatics (P<0.05, OR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.27-3.24). FEV1% of predicted mean levels were lower among obese than non-obese asthmatics (p<0.05). ST was significantly higher in asthmatics than in controls with a mean ±SD of 53.3±13.78 ng/ml and 10.06±4.39 ng/ml respectively. ST was higher in obese than non-obese asthmatics with a mean ±SD of 71.73±19.17 ng/ml and 34.5±8.68 ng/ml respectively (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between ST and FEV1 % of predicted and positive correlations between ST and age, BMI, and waist circumference among asthmatics. Conclusion: Mast cells play a role in both obesity and asthma, serum tryptase, being a marker of mast cell activation, could represent a link between them. Research Article Is Serum Tryptase a Valuable Marker for Obesity-Bronchial Asthma Interrelationship in Children? Abdel Gawad TA 1 , Terez B Kamel 1 *, Manal M Abd Al-Aziz 2 , Abou-Sekin TA 1 and Mourad Alfy Ramzy 3 1 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt 2 Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt 3 Department of Pediatrics, El-Galaa Military hospitals, Egypt Dates: Received: 23 March, 2017; Accepted: 11 April, 2017; Published: 12 April, 2017 *Corresponding author: Terez Boshra Kamel, Depart- ment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt, E-mail: Keywords: Bronchial asthma; Obesity; Serum tryptase (ST); Waist circumference; Body mass index (BMI) https://www.peertechz.com Introduction Asthma is determined by multiple interacting genetic and environmental factors. Obesity is a common co-morbidity that may adversely affect asthma severity and response to therapy and recent studies have also suggested that obese asthmatics respond differently to standard therapies than their non- obese counterparts. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that childhood obesity is a risk factor for the development of asthma [1]. Mast cells are found to be more abundant in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue from obese humans than from non-obese humans [2]. Total serum tryptase (ST) could be considered as a measure of mast cell activity [3]. Although their biological function has not yet been clarified, tryptases seem to be involved in a number of mast cell-mediated allergic and inflammatory diseases. In particular, the involvement of tryptase in asthma, an inflammatory disease of the airways often caused by allergy, has been proposed [4]. Aim of the Study This cross sectional study was designed to evaluate serum tryptase (ST) in obese asthmatic children as a possible linkage between both obesity and asthma. Accordingly, this study may add to the pathogenesis of asthma among obese children that could be critical to guide understanding of this disease process; such studies will ultimately guide the development of new therapies to treat the obese asthmatic population. Methods Study design and population Current cross sectional study has respected principles laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki, adopted by the 18 th World Medical Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, June 1964, which recently amended at the 59 th World Medical Assembly, Seoul, Korea; in October, 2008. The entire protocol was approved by university ethical committee. All parents and/or care-givers