Upper airway cough syndrome in children and two inflammatory factors: TRPV1 and TGF-β2

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to investigate upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) in children and to determine alternative methods to explore the relationships among TRPV1, TGF-β2, and UACS.MethodsIn 2012, 104 children with adenoid hypertrophy aged 2–13 years who were admitted to the otolaryngology department, Capital Institute of Pediatrics-affiliated children's hospital, were included in this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies for TRPV1 and TGF-β2 were performed to understand the relationship between the two inflammatory factors, and the correlations among the indices and UACS. The research was divided into three stages. In stage 1, 72 children (24 UACS and 48 controls) were enrolled in the study, and ELISAs for TRPV1 and TGF-β2 were performed. In stage 2, 32 children (16 UACS and 16 controls) were enrolled in the study and both ELISA and IHC for TRPV1 and TGF-β2 were performed. In stage 3, 41 children were enrolled in this research who had thick mucus secretions in the posterior nasal apertures in stage 1 and 2 (23 cases with chief complaint (or history) of chronic cough and 18 cases without). The difference between the TRPV1 and TGF-β2 serum values and the clinical factors was determined.ResultsThe levels of TRPV1 and TGF-β2 were significantly increased in the UACS cases. OSAHS and thick mucus secretions correlated with a diagnosis of UACS. A history of asthma and thick mucus secretions correlated with elevation of the two inflammatory factors. There was no statistical correlation between ELISA and IHC testing. Among the children with thick mucus secretions, some had a higher possibility of chronic coughing including those who had higher levels of the two indices, larger tonsils and a history of chronic tonsillitis.ConclusionThe detections of TRPV1 and TGF-β2 from serum and adenoid body specimens are valuable for UACS auxiliary diagnosis. Tonsil hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis history are independent risk factors of UACS.