The antioxidative-prooxidative balance in children with asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting β2-agonists

Abstract

The aim of study was to analyze the effect of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting β2-agonists on antioxidative-prooxidative balance in children with asthma. Material and methods: Twenty children with newly diagnosed asthma before treatment (group I), fourteen children with diagnosed asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting β2-agonists and 57 healthy children were ioncluded in the study. In all cases plasma protein carbonyls and activity of erythrocyte SOD was assayed. Results: Plasma protein carbonyls in both group I (1.01 nmol/g of protein, SD=0.30) and group II (0.94; SD=0.15) was significantly higher than in group III (0.85; SD=0.24) (I vs III p < 0.033; II vs III p < 0.031). The highest SOD activity was found in group II (3156.4 U/gHb; SD=976.1) (II vs I p < 0.02; II vs III p < 0.0001). SOD activity n group I (2435.8, SD=730.2) was higher than in group III (1533.1, SD=703.8) (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The increase in SOD activity in children with asthma seems to be a response to intensification of oxidative stress. Treatment of asthma with inhaled corticosteroids and long acting β2-agonists augments antioxidative defense by increase in superoxide dismutase activity.