title: Salivary oxidative stress in children during acute asthmatic attack and during remission.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with asthma generate an increased amount of reactive oxygen species from peripheral blood cells, which may contribute to its pathogenesis. Saliva analysis is non-invasive and friendly to children. We undertook this study to analyze the salivary oxidative profile and composition in children with asthma during attack and remission, and to compare them with the levels of salivary antioxidants of healthy control children.
  
  
  METHODS
  School age (range 6-18 years) children referred to the emergency room for acute asthma were included. Clinical score was assessed, spirometry performed, and saliva samples were collected and analyzed. All measurements were repeated during remission of asthma attack (2-4 weeks after attack). Salivary analysis was performed blindly during asthma attack and the results were compared to those obtained during remission, and to those of the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant decreases in levels of salivary peroxidase enzyme activity were observed in asthmatic children during attack compared with healthy controls, with partial recovery during remission of attack. Similarly decreased levels of calcium concentrations were observed in asthmatic children, accompanied by increased phosphate levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with acute asthma attacks exhibit a decrease in the activity of the most important salivary antioxidant enzyme-peroxidase, which is accompanied by other salivary composition alterations. Hence, acute asthma is manifested by salivary changes. This implies systemic oxidative stress in asthma, which may be reflected in salivary analysis.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, P.O. Box 9602, Haifa 31092, Israel. l_bentur@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bentur
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Riva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brik
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eizenberg
authors.forename: Rafael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nagler
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010710:Phosphates; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002118:Calcium