[Changes in the lipid composition of cell membranes in patients with bronchial asthma after glucocorticosteroid therapy]. / Izmenenie lipidnogo sostava kletochnykh membran u bol'nykh bronkhial'noi astmoi pod vliianiem gliukokortikosteroidnoi terapii.

Levels of phospholipids (PL) and cholesterol (CS) were measured in erythrocytic membranes (EM) of 17 bronchial asthma (BA) patients. A relationship was established between BA aggravations and elevated CS but reduced PL concentrations in EM. These parameters responded positively on day 10 of glucocorticosteroids administration. There was a good clinical effect. The changes observed may be attributed to decreasing EM viscosity improving the function of adenylate cyclase and to the action of glucocorticosteroids on phospholipase A2 by rising PL values. Some patients, in the presence of abnormal PL and CS levels, showed qualitative shifts in PL: lower proportion of sphingomyelin-containing PL. Further study of specific membrane impairment in BA promises introduction of new approaches to BA treatment.