Does anyone know about a genetic link for asthma?

[KatyMac]

DD had a blood test & the nurse told me the name; but I put it into my forgettory & it's gone

What would they be testing for genetically?

I think for asthma it's not so much genetic for asthma, but a genetic link for having allergies that can set off asthma.

Really? Goodness how easy is it to get the wrong end of the stick?

DD doesn't really have allergies as such, just asthma when she has a cold

I may be wrong, only what others have said. I think if parents have hayfever or excema dc have a higher chance of asthma. When they were looking at dd2 from the asthma point of view (again, just a cold type one) I was asked about all three. We have family history of asthma and excema.

I have loads of contact allergies (which are apparently not really allergies) & DH is a very bad asthmatic - but he has been tested for this - oh I wish I could remember what she called it

as I understand it allergies, excema + asthma are all related to each other, so a history of any of them means an increased risk of any of them.

asthma is an allergic disease. and is more common in families with other allergies thrown in, ezcema (atopic ezcema etc) hay fever etc you name it all allergic diseases.

Eosinophils?

I don't think that was what she said....but I'll have a google

DD recently had a RAST test for her asthma but it is looking for her allergic reactions. As far as I know there is no definitive blood test for asthma.

They also like to stab her for IgE and to check her immunity to various things with regular monotony.

I don't think it was those either - I feel such a pratt I should have written it down

I know IgE is one of the things they will do a blood test for in asthma and it is hereditary - perhaps the test also has another name?

asthma.about.com/od/asthmabasics/a/art_ige.htm

I wonder if IgE stands for anything (must read link properly)

IgE is the antibody which causes the allergic reaction part of both allergy and asthma.

They could also have called it immunoglobulin.

No it definitely wasn't that; oh I am silly I'll find out when I get the results (& forget to write it down again)

Aspergillus precipitins?
Eosinophil count?

Nope I don't think it was those either

I'll ring up on Thursday......I promise I will tell you what it was (& no doubt it will be something someone has mentioned - I feel so stupid)

Don't feel silly - I did this with my hearing. Luckily DH had been with me at the time (long story) and spent about 2hrs googling until we worked out what it was!

think you inherit being atopic which includes allergies asthma excema etc but it manifests differently in each person.

It was this
alpha-1 antitrypsin
& she is clear