title: Increase in reactive oxygen metabolite level in acute exacerbations of asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidants including reactive oxygen species have been indicated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated oxidative status in patients with acute exacerbations of asthma and evaluated the therapeutic response using the D-ROM test which is simple to use and quick.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) levels in the serum of 42 outpatients with acute exacerbations of asthma, 11 outpatients with stable asthma and 40 healthy subjects using the D-ROM test. Seven inpatients admitted due to acute exacerbations of asthma were also enrolled to evaluate the effects of treatment. Serum eosinophil cationic protein and plasma polymorphonuclear elastase were also measured by EIA or ELISA to evaluate the correlation between inflammation and oxidative status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum ROM levels were significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbation of asthma than in patients with stable asthma or healthy subjects. Levels of serum eosinophil cationic protein and plasma polymorphonuclear elastase were increased in acute exacerbation and moderately correlated to ROM levels. Levels of ROM were significantly decreased after treatment with systemic steroids and bronchodilators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that acute exacerbation of asthma is associated with increased oxidative stress. Serum ROM levels would partly reflect the inflammation with eosinophils and neutrophils and may be useful as biomarkers of asthma.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. szshin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsukura
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Koushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ieki
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odaka
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aruga
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kokubu
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adachi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species