Effects of the menstrual cycle on lung function variables in women with asthma.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis is a defining pathologic feature of airway remodeling and contributes to asthma severity. Women experience changes in asthma control over the menstrual cycle, a time when vessels routinely form and regress under the control of angiogenic factors. One vital function modulated over the menstrual cycle in healthy women is gas transfer, and this has been related to angiogenesis and cyclic expansion of the pulmonary vascular bed.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that changes in gas transfer and the pulmonary vascular bed occur in women with asthma over the menstrual cycle and are associated with worsening airflow obstruction.


METHODS
Twenty-three women, 13 with asthma and 10 healthy control subjects, were evaluated over the menstrual cycle with weekly measures of spirometry, gas transfer, nitric oxide, hemoglobin, factors affecting hemoglobin binding affinity, and proangiogenic factors.


RESULTS
Airflow and lung diffusing capacity varied over the menstrual cycle with peak levels during menses that subsequently declined to nadir in early luteal phase. In contrast to healthy women, changes in lung diffusing capacity (DL(CO)) were associated with changes in membrane diffusing capacity and DL(CO) was not related to proangiogenic factors. DL(CO) did not differ between the two groups, although methemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin were higher in women with asthma than in healthy women.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with asthma experience cyclic changes in airflow as well as gas transfer and membrane diffusing capacity supportive of a hormonal effect on lung function.
Farha
Samar
S
Respiratory Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. farhas@ccf.org
Asosingh
Kewal
K
Laskowski
Daniel
D
Hammel
Jeffrey
J
Dweik
Raed A
RA
Wiedemann
Herbert P
HP
Erzurum
Serpil C
SC
D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / Q000502:physiology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008706:Methemoglobin; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin; D010100:Oxygen