[Inflammatory markers associated with asthma and body mass index]

Obesity can be considered as a chronic inflammatory process, which is associated with many different diseases. Its relationship with asthma has been poorly evaluated. Obesity induces the production of leptin and cytokines in asthmatic patients, and it is associated with worse disease severity.

To determine the relationship between obesity (according to body mass index, BMI), asthma severity and leptin, IL-1 beta, and IL-4 concentrations in blood.

37 adult allergic asthmatic patients where involved in the study, each of them with different clinical disease stages, evaluated by GINA international diagnosis and treatment criteria 2004. BMI was determined and peripheral blood samples were taken to determine IL-1 beta, IL-4, and leptin concentrations.

BMI and asthma severity shown a moderate correlation (r = 0.528), according to Colton's criteria. BMI and leptin correlation levels were r = 0.425 with p < 0.025. Plasma leptin levels and asthma severity shown a significant difference in the groups composed of intermittent mild asthma and persistent severe asthma (p < 0.02). There was a non significant correlation between BMI and asthma severity with IL-4, and finally there was no correlation with IL-1 beta. This results suggest that asthmatic patients with a BMI3 30 have higher plasma leptin concentrations and worse disease severity, mainly in women.