[Generation of active forms of oxygen by alveolar macrophages in patients with bronchial asthma]

Generation of active oxygen forms (GAOF) by alveolar macrophages (AM) and leukocytes, the role of GAOF in provoking a bronchial asthma (BA) attack were studied simultaneously and compared in 10 asthmatics, 10 chronics with bronchitis and 5 healthy subjects. GAOF was evaluated using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Basal and stimulated indices of the latter, the ratio GAOF by leukocytes to GAOF by AM were estimated. In a BA exacerbation GAOF intensity proved higher than in health. Both healthy subjects and the patients had GAOF by leukocytes more active than GAOF by AM, their proportion being less in asthmatics. It appeared that in BA aggravation leukocytes generate more active oxygen forms, but AM activation surpasses that of leucocytes.