ABSTRACT
Asthma is a complex disorder which cannot be defined adequately in terms of a single pathophysiological mechanism. The pathogenesis of bronchial asthma is chronic airway inflammation caused by immune cells such as T-lymphocytes and eosinophils which release cytotoxic products including reactive oxygen species at the site of inflammation leading to epithelial damage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the importance of selenium and glutathione peroxidase as important antioxidants in asthmatic attacks and to highlight the possible burden of body mass index in asthmatic children. Fifty children were included in this study. Group I "asthmatic children" consisted of 25 patients [14 males and 11 females] aged 6-12 years. Group II "control group" consisted of 25 healthy children [13 males and 12 females] aged 6-12 years. All children were examined thoroughly and their FEVI % and PEFR were measured. These tests were repeated after bronchodilators only in asthmatic children. Body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Chest X-rays, urine and stool analysis for parasites, complete blood picture and sputum eosinophils were performed. Glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and selenium [Se] blood levels were assayed for both groups. The results showed that sputum eosinophils and peripheral eosinophils were significantly higher in asthmatics. Glutathione peroxidase and selenium blood levels were significantly lower in asthmatic children and can reliably assess severity of the asthmatic attack besides pulmonary function tests [FEVI % and PEFR]. BMI of our asthmatic children was significantly higher than control, with the overweight asthmatics showing slightly lower serum selenium level and pulmonary function tests and less improvement of their severity scores of the asthmatic attack and pulmonary functions by bronchodilators. It was also found that the improvement of asthmatic attacks [severity score, PEFR and FEV, %] was better in cases with higher GPx, serum Se and low BMI and the most severe cases had less GPx and Se levels and had high BMI and higher sputum eosinophils and peripheral eosinophilia
Conclusion: selenium and Glutathione peroxidase as antioxidants are deficient in asthmatic children during severe attacks; hence further studies with supplementation of antioxidants are recommended