SERUM LEVEL OF SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR DURING ACUTE ASTHMA EXACERBATION AND ITS RELATION TO SEVERITY AND RESPONSE TO BRONCHODILATOR THERAPY

Abstract

Asthma is considered the most prevalent chronic condition in children

I responsible for a significant proportion of both acute and chronic illness and the major cause of school absenteeism and functional limitation. I I T-lymphocytes are pivotal cell type involved in the pathophysiology of asthma. Activation of the T-lymphocytes is associated with synthesis and I release of soluble form of the receptor protein siL-2R.<94 75) The presence of

I such activated T-cells has been demonstrated in the blood,<95

bronchial

biopsies,<65land bronchial alveolar lavage of asthmatics.<94 I thus appear to be a characteristic feature of acute asthma. I

T-cell activation

In order to throw more light on the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, it is important to study the serum siL-2R levels in asthmatic children during I acute exacerbation and to correlate these levels with the severity of the

I disease. It remains to be determined whether T-cell activation indirectly related to airway inflammation is relevant to airflow obstruction during I acute asthma. If this is the case, serum level of siL-2R at acute exacerbation

I would correlate negatively with the response to initial bronchodilator therapy. I