Gene expression profiling of nasal swabs samples from children with asthma or wheezing exacerbations.

Nasal swab specimens were collected from children who presented to the emergency department with an acute exacerbation of asthma or wheeze. Samples were also collected from control subjects. Convalescent/quiescent samples were collected from children who were followed-up at least 6 weeks after an acute exacerbation of asthma or wheeze. Gene expression was profiled on microarrays. The study was based on case/control comparisons between children with acute asthma/wheeze, versus convalescent samples or controls.