Increase in reactive oxygen metabolite level in acute exacerbations of asthma.
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.
Suzuki
Shintaro
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. szshin@hotmail.com
Matsukura
Satoshi
S
Takeuchi
Hiroko
H
Kawaguchi
Mio
M
Ieki
Koushi
K
Odaka
Miho
M
Watanabe
Shin
S
Homma
Tetsuya
T
Dohi
Kenji
K
Aruga
Tohru
T
Sato
Masayuki
M
Kurokawa
Masatsugu
M
Kokubu
Fumio
F
Adachi
Mitsuru
M
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species