title: Sputum cysteinyl-leukotriene levels correlate with the severity of pulmonary disease in children with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Sputum samples from 13 children with cystic fibrosis (CF) were analyzed for leukotrienes (LTs) LTB4, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4. Distribution of LTB4 appeared to be normal, and of cysteinyl-LTs log normal. Total cysteinyl-LT levels, of which on average 75% was LTE4, were nearly 10 times higher than in earlier studies. Log LTE4 and total cysteinyl-LT levels correlated with the overall severity of pulmonary disease assessed by Chrispin-Norman chest radiograph score (Log LTE4: r = 0.701, r2 = 49.1%, P = 0.008. Log total cysteinyl-LTs: r = 0.715, r2 = 51.1%, P = 0.006). There was no apparent relationship between LTB4 levels and Chrispin-Norman chest radiograph score, nor between the level of any of the LTs and age or organism cultured from sputum. These findings suggest that the cysteinyl-LTs may be involved in the pathophysiology of pulmonary disease in CF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, U.K.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Piper
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017999:Leukotriene E4; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000032:analysis*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013189:SRS-A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015289:Leukotrienes; D013189:SRS-A; D017999:Leukotriene E4