Study Finds Link Between Asthma and Eczema

A team at the Washington University School of Medicine may have found out why many children with eczema develop asthma. The study published by the Public Library of Science Biology found that a natural protein called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is produced by eczema and that same protein is found in the lungs of asthmatics.

According to the study, its has been found that 50 to 70 percent of children with allergic skin problems such as atopic dermatitis eventually contract asthma. Scientists observed mice with eczema-like conditions and discovered that TSLP was being secreted. These mice also had symptoms common to asthma such as mucous secretion and the tightening of airways in the lungs.

“Now it will be important to address how to prevent defective skin from producing TSLP. If that can be done, the link between eczema and asthma could be broken,” says Dr. Raphael Kopan, lead researcher of the study.

Researchers are hoping to create treatments that will target TSLP for not only eczema and asthma patients along with people who had other allergic ailments.

AUTHOR: Asiana Ponciano