PLASMA LEUKOTRIENES LEVELS DURING ACUTE ATTACKS IN ASTHMATIC CHILDREN

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, involving many interacting cells. These cells release a wide variety of inflammatory mediators that activate several target cells in the airway, resulting in bronchoconstriction, microvascular leakage and edema, mucus hypersecretion and stimulation of neural reflexes (Barnes, 1989). It is viewed as allergen­ induced mast cell degranulation, resulting in the release of mediators, such as histamine and leukotrienes, which contract airway smooth muscle (Barnes et al., 1988). The most relevant group of arachidonic acid metabolites to asthma is the leukotrienes, the 5-lipoxygenase pathway produces leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4. These are liberated during inflammatory processes in the lung and have significant effects on airway smooth muscle (bronchoconstriction), mucociliary function, microvascular permeability, and airway edema (Piacentini and Kaliner, 1991).

The aim of the current study is to measure plasma LTs levels of asthmatic children during their acute attacks. and to correlate its level to the degree of severity.

This study was done on 30 children 19 males and 11 females, mild, moderate to severe asthmatic children.