title: [Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid treatment on plasma substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in children with asthma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the changes in plasma substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels in children with acute asthma before and after gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five children with asthma were randomly assigned to GABA treatment (n=36) and control groups (n=39). Both groups were given conventional treatment for asthma. Besides the conventional treatment, the treatment group was administered with oral GABA (25-30 mg/kg•d). Plasma content of SP and CGRP was measured using ELISA before treatment and after remission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in plasma content of SP and CGRP between the GABA treatment and control groups (P＞0.05) before treatment. Plasma content of SP and CGRP in the GABA treatment group was significantly lower than the control group (SP: 57±15 pg/mL vs 127±12 pg/mL; CGRP: 23±10 pg/mL vs 42±8 pg/mL) after remission (P<0.01). Plasma content of SP and CGRP after remission was significantly lower than before treatment (P<0.01) in both groups. There was a significantly positive correlation between plasma SP and CGRP content in asthmatic children (r=0.792, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GABA can significantly decrease plasma levels of SP and CGRP in children suffering from acute asthma.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Binzhou People's Hospital, Binzhou, Shangdong, China. xcvjgmzb@126.com
authors: Chuan-Wei
authors: CW
authors: Xu
authors: Shan-Chun
authors: SC
authors: Guo
authors: Zhen-Wen
authors: ZW
authors: Zheng
authors: Qing-Yuan
authors: QY
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide