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Blood leukotriene levels during the acute asthma attack in children
Insights
Elevated blood leukotriene C (LT C) levels are linked to acute asthma attacks in children. Treatment for asthma attacks reduced these leukotriene levels, suggesting their role in the condition.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Leukotrienes (LT) are implicated as key mediators in acute asthma attacks (AAA).
- Understanding the role of LT in pediatric asthma pathophysiology is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate blood leukotriene levels in children experiencing acute asthma attacks.
- To determine the correlation between LT levels and asthma severity and treatment response.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples from 18 children with AAA were collected before and after treatment.
- Leukotrienes were identified and quantified using Sep-pak chromatography, RP-HPLC, UV spectroscopy, bioassay, and RIA.
- LT levels were compared between asthma patients and control groups.
Main Results:
- Leukotriene C (LT C), D, and E were detected in patients with AAA.
- LT C levels were significantly elevated in children with AAA (73.8 ng/ml) compared to controls (1.6 ng/ml).
- Post-treatment LT C levels decreased to 22.5 ng/ml, correlating with clinical improvement.
Conclusions:
- Acute asthma attacks in children are associated with significantly elevated blood LT C levels.
- Reduced LT C levels after treatment suggest a therapeutic link and highlight LT C's role in AAA pathogenesis.
Abstract:
Leukotrienes (LT) have been proposed to be important mediators in the etiology of the acute asthma attack (AAA). We therefore studied blood LT levels in 18 children having AAA. Heparinized blood samples were obtained before and after treatment with epinephrine injections and/or metaproterenol inhalations in the emergency room. The samples were acidified and subjected to Sep-pak chromatography. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy and bioassay on guinea pig ileum were used to identify the LT based on comparison to data produced by standard synthetic LT samples. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to further confirm the presence of LT. LT C, D and E were detected in the plasma of children having AAA. Only LT C levels were significantly elevated over control values. The mean blood LT C level of control patients was 1.6 +/- 1.2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml, mean +/- SEM) while that of the asthma patients was 73.8 +/- 18.2 ng/ml prior to treatment. After emergency room treatment the asthma patients had a mean blood LT C level of 22.5 +/- 11.7 ng/ml. Lowered levels of LT C accompanied improved clinical condition of the patients. This finding indicates that the AAA in children is associated with elevated blood levels of LT C.