Abstract

Introduction: There is a large variation in the magnitude of the response to asthma medications. Pharmacogenetics is responsible for a significant part of this variation.

Objectives: we aimed at studying the effect of the Glucocoricoid receptors NR3C1 BCLI single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the susceptibility to bronchial asthma in children and to evaluate its effect on the response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

Methodology: Seventy five asthmatic children and a control group of 66 non asthmatic children were included in the study. The level of asthma symptom control and pulmonary function tests were measured initially and 3 months after treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. The genotypes were studied using PCR-RFLP method.

Results: No statistically significant difference was found between asthmatic group and the control group as regard the studied genotype. Among asthmatic children, The CC genotype was statistically associated with controlled asthma symptoms 3 months after treatment and the GG genotype was associated with poor asthma symptom control. Also, FEV1% after 3 months of treatment was statistically lower in children with the GG genotype as compared to children with the CG and CC genotypes

Conclusion: glucocorticoid receptor NR3C1 SNP was not associated with asthma susceptibility in the studied group. However, the presence of the GG genotype was associated with decreased response to ICSs among asthmatic children as regards asthma symptom control and FEV1% response.