A family study of the genetic basis of asthma and wheezy bronchitis.

Abstract

The family histories relating to asthma and wheezy bronchitis were examined in 77 asthmatic, 78 wheezy bronchitic, and 87 control children, aged 1-12 yr. The percentage of children with at least 1 asthmatic relative was significantly greater in the asthmatic and wheezy bronchitic probands than in the controls; and asthma was more prevalent in the relatives of both groups of wheezy probands than in the relatives of controls. The percentage of children with at least 1 wheezy bronchitic relative tended to be greater in asthmatic and wheezy bronchitic probands than in the controls; and wheezy bronchitis tended to be more prevalent in the relatives of both groups of wheezy probands than in the relatives of controls. These differences did not reach significance. The strong similarities between asthmatic and wheezy bronchitic children in their family histories of asthma and wheezy bronchitis suggest that these 2 forms of wheezy illness share a common genetic defect.