RESUMO
The aim of this study was to explore some of the local antioxidant defenses in patients with asthma focusing on superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione [GSH] and selenium. Two groups of subjects were included in this study: Group I included 20 asthmatic patients and group II included 10 normal control subjects. Glutathione [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and selenium were estimated in bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] of all subjects. The results showed that there was a significant increase in the level of BAL glutathione among asthmatic group as compared with the control group. Also, the study showed a significant decrease in the level of BAL selenium among the asthmatic group as compared with the control group. Also, there was a significant decrease in the level of BAL superoxide dismutase among the asthmatic group when compared with the control group