الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Two asthmatic groups each included 20 patients, the asymptomatic group where patients were free of symptoms, the symptomatic group whei·e patients were suffering fi-om acute exacerbation of their asthma and both of asthmatic groups were subclassilicd into mild and moderate subgroups each of I 0 patients according asthma severity. All subjects were subjected to clinical study, chest X-ray for subclassification of patients, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) recording for sub classification of patients, skin prick testing using common allergens (patients only) and laboratory investigations which included complete blood count (CBC) including absolute eosinophil count (AEC), urine and stool examination, total serum lgE level, plasma IL-8 level and plasma endothelin-1 level. There was no significant difference between the study groups as regards AEC. There was a highly significant elevation in serum lgE of the asthmatic groups in comparison to control group. There was a highly significant elevation in plasma endothclin-1 and plasma IL-8 levels of the symptomatic asthmatic subgroups in con1parison to control group and asymptomatic asthmatic subgroups. In conclusion: despite this profile, a causal link between IL-8, ET-1 and asthma has not been definitively established, but surely, it is now clear that those mediators, their receptors, synthesis and degradation pathways oiler potentially important therapeutic targets. |