title: Parameters of lung inflammation in asthmatic as compared to healthy children in a contaminated city.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of air pollution on the respiratory system has been estimated on the basis of respiratory symptoms and lung function. However; few studies have compared lung inflammation in healthy and asthmatics children exposed to high levels of air pollution. The aim of the study was to elucidate the modulatory effect of air pollution on Cysteinyl-leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) among healthy and asthmatic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional comparative study. Children between 7-12 years of age, asthmatics and non-asthmatics, residents of a city with high levels of PM10 were included. In all cases, forced spirometry, Cys-LTs levels in EBC, and the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire were evaluated. We also obtained average of PM10, CO, SO2 and O3 levels during the period of the study by the State Institute of Ecology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 103 children (51 asthmatics and 52 non-asthmatics). Cys-LTs levels were higher in asthmatics than in non-asthmatics (77.3 ± 21.6 versus 60.3 ± 26.8 pg/ml; p = 0.0005). Also, Cys-LTs levels in children with intermittent asthma were lower than in children with persistent asthma (60.4 ± 20.4 versus 84.7 ± 19.2 pg/ml; p = 0.0001). In the multiple regression model, factors associated with levels of Cys-LTs were passive smoking (β = 13.1, p 0.04) and to be asthmatic (β = 11.5, p 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cys-LTs levels are higher in asthmatic children than in healthy children in a contaminated city and its levels are also associated with passive smoking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Nutrition, Division of Health Sciences, University of Guanajuato, León, Guanajuato, México. blinares70@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: Benigno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linares Segovia
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cortés Sandoval
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amador Licona
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guízar Mendoza
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Núñez Lemus
authors.forename: Diana Olivia
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Rocha Amador
authors.forename: Xóchitl Sofía
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Ramírez Gómez
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monroy Torres
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000032:analysis; D017998:Leukotriene D4 / Q000032:analysis; D017999:Leukotriene E4 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D014505:Urban Population; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D017998:Leukotriene D4; D017999:Leukotriene E4