ABSTRACT
The activity of the enzyme purine metabolism (5'-nucleotidase, adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase and the content of uric acid, i.e. the final product of the purine metabolism) were determined in lymphocytes, eosinophiles and blood serum of patients with bronchial asthma. The activity of 5'-nucleotidase in lymphocytes, eosinophiles and blood serum of patients with bronchial asthma was found to be reduced by 5-7-% as compared with the controls. The activity of adenosine deaminase in lymphocytes, eosinophiles and blood serum was found to be reduced in a majority of patients. An increased activity of adenosine deaminase was higher in lymphocytes and blood serum of 38% of the examined patients. The activity of xanthine oxidase in lymphocytes and eosinophiles of patients exceeded by 2.4 and 1.7 times the control value, respectively. The content of urine acid was found to be increased, in bronchial asthma, by 2.7 times. Consequently, the balance of enzyme reactions of the purine metabolism is impaired in bronchial asthma, and there is an accumulation of urine acid.
