Reduction in mouse allergen exposure is associated with greater lung function growth.

Background: Current childhood asthma therapies have little effect on lung function trajectory.

Objective: We sought to determine whether mouse allergen exposure reduction is associated with lung function growth in mouse-sensitized/exposed asthmatic children.

Methods: Three hundred fifty mouse-sensitized/exposed asthmatic children (5-17 years old) were enrolled in a 1-year randomized trial of integrated pest management plus education versus education alone. Prebronchodilator/postbronchodilator spirometry was performed at baseline and 6 and 12 months, and bedroom floor mouse allergen levels were measured every 3 months. Mouse allergen reduction was defined as a 75% or greater decrease in mouse allergen levels from baseline. Treatment groups were combined for analyses because there were no differences in outcomes between groups. Changes in lung function over time were modeled, adjusting for age, sex, race, atopy, group, and bronchodilator reversibility and including an interaction term (allergen reduction*time).

Results: The study population was predominantly black (79.4%) and low income (66.3% [<$30,000]). At baseline, the median mouse allergen level was 5.7 μg/g (interquartile range, 1.5-22.8 μg/g), and the mean (SD) prebronchodilator FEV/forced vital capacity ratio was 80.2% (9.0%). Ninety-two (26.3%) participants had 75% or greater reduction in mouse allergen levels. For a 10-year-old black boy, 75% or greater allergen reduction was associated with an increase in prebronchodilator FEV of 238 mL/y (95% CI, 177-299 mL/y), whereas less than 75% allergen reduction was associated with an increase in prebronchodilator FEV of 131 mL/y (95% CI, 97-166 mL/y). Estimated differences in prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator FEV growth were as follows: 107 mL/y (95% CI, 37-177 mL/y; P = .003) and 48 mL/y (95% CI, -17 to 113 mL/y; P = .15), respectively. Estimated differences in prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of vital capacity growth were as follows: 182 mL/y (95% CI, 61-304 mL/y; P = .003) and 181 mL/y (95% CI, 48-314 mL/y; P = .008), respectively.

Conclusion: Mouse allergen reduction is associated with greater increases in prebronchodilator FEV and prebronchodilator/postbronchodilator forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% of vital capacity over 1 year among sensitized/exposed asthmatic children.