Abstract:
Objective To explore the regulatory effect of oral probiotics as adjuvant therapy on the imbalance of helper T cell 1 (Th1)/helper T cell 2 (Th2), intestinal flora and lung function in children with allergic asthma and its clinical efficacy.
Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in the clinical data of 122 children with allergic asthma. According to different treatment regimens, the children were divided into control group (n=60) and observation group (n=62). The control group received conventional treatment combined with budesonide, while the observation group received oral probiotics as adjunctive therapy in addition to the treatment in the control group. The asthma control effectsChildhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) score, intestinal flora (Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus), relevant lung function indicatorspeak expiratory flow as a percentage of predicted value (PEF%pred), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of predicted value (FEV1%pred), respiratory mechanics parameterswork of breathing (WOB), airway resistance (Raw), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), levels of sputum adhesion molecules integrin α4β1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), levels of Th1/Th2 cytokine-related indicatorsinterleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4 (IFN-γ/IL-4), the ratio of Th1 to Th2 (Th1/Th2), symptom disappearance time, clinical efficacy, and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.
Results After treatment, the observation group demonstrated significantly higher C-ACT scores, overall clinical response rates, IFN-γ/IL-4 and Th1/Th2 ratios, along with elevated levels of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, PEF%pred, FEV1%pred, Cdyn and IFN-γ compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conversely, adverse reaction rates, and levels of Escherichia coli, FeNO, Raw, WOB, PIP, integrin α4β1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and IL-4 were significantly lower in the observation group (P < 0.05). Symptom resolution time was also shorter in the observation group (P < 0.05). The total Naranjo scale score was 3, indicating a "possible" causal relationship between adverse drug reactions and probiotic use.
Conclusion Oral probiotics as adjunctive therapy can effectively regulate Th1/Th2 imbalance induced by allergic asthma in children, improve clinical outcomes, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, intestinal microbiota composition, and sputum adhesion molecule levels.