Study of whole blood glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity and serum selenium level in bronchial asthma and COPD

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in Kasr El-Aini Hospital and included 70 age and sex matched subjects who were divided into three groups. Group I included 25 patients with bronchial asthma, group II included 25 patients with COPD and group III included 20 healthy volunteers. The aim of this work was to study the relation between serum selenium level and whole blood GSH-Px activity and inflammation in bronchial asthma and COPD and if they have a correlation with the severity of the disease. All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, ventilatory pulmonary function test and measurement of serum selenium level and whole blood GSH-Px activity. Serum selenium level and whole blood GSH-Px activity have a role in the pathogenesis of inflammation in bronchial asthma and COPD where they act against the oxidative stress. The reduction of serum selenium level and whole blood GSH-Px activity is correlated with the clinical and functional severity of the disease. Dietary supplementation with selenium and glutathione may have a role in the treatment of bronchial asthma and COPD