A Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Serum NFATc3 Levels in Pediatric Patients with Bronchial Asthma: A Prospective Observational Case–Control Investigation

The early and precise diagnosis of asthma significantly impacts the long-term health outcomes of pediatric patients. The sensitivity and specificity of current biomarkers, however, are frequently limited. Our study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 3 (NFATc3), in pediatric bronchial asthma, focusing on its diagnostic and prognostic value for disease severity and recurrence. This observational, prospective case-control study involved 200 pediatric patients with bronchial asthma and 200 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, from January 2020 to January 2023. Follow-up varied from 1 to 3 years. We measured levels of NFATc3 and inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and TNF-α via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NFATc3 and IL-1β levels at enrollment were markedly higher in patients with acute exacerbations and those classified as severe, compared with their less severe counterparts. Throughout the study, NFATc3, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels significantly increased in severe or acutely exacerbating cases. The diagnostic value of NFATc3 was assessed through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, which showed its potential in diagnosing bronchial asthma and identifying severe cases. Spearman's analysis confirmed positive associations between peak NFATc3 and cytokine levels. Importantly, disease type, NFATc3 values at enrollment, as well as peak IL-6 levels were identified as independent risk factors for severe bronchial asthma. Elevated NFATc3 is linked with the severity of pediatric bronchial asthma and serves as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and severity prediction, emphasizing its role in guiding treatment strategies.