[Outpatient use of laser therapy in bronchial asthma].

AIM: To analyse effects of outpatient laser therapy on the course of different forms of bronchial asthma (BA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination has covered 466 patients with BA divided into three groups: group 1 patients received monotherapy with low-intensive laser radiation (LILR); group 2 - LILR plus conventional drug therapy (CDT); group 3 - CDT only. RESULTS: Group 1 and 2 patients achieved improvement after 2-3 sessions. Asphyxia attacks were less frequent and severe. These attacks disappeared to session 7-10, 10-12 in patients with exogenic, endogenic and mild, moderate mixed BA, respectively. The patients recovered sensitivity to sympathomimetics and methylxantines. Glucocorticosteroids (GCS) doses, hospital stay and temporary disability duration decreased. These two groups achieved remission within 0.5-1 year in 50% patients. Remission for 1-2 years was observed in 40% patients while in group. 3 - in 14%. CONCLUSION: The addition of laser therapy improves a BA course, results of outpatient treatment and rehabilitation, recovers bronchial sensitivity to sympathomimetics and xantine derivatives, reduces GCS dose and duration of hospital stay and disability in BA patients.

[Low-intensity laser radiation in therapy of bronchial asthma].

Efficacy of low-intensity laser radiation (LR) was studied by changes in a histamine level in peripheral blood and external respiration function (ERF). A total of 228 patients with exogenic bronchial asthma (EBA) were divided into two groups: 167 patients with nonhormone dependent asthma (group 1) and 61 patients with hormone-dependent bronchial asthma (group 2). Low-intensity LR lowered a histamine level and improved ERF in both group 1 and 2. A definite negative correlation was found between histamine content and ERF parameters. Laser therapy alone is effective in mild EBA. For moderate and severe EBA and hormone-dependent bronchial asthma a combination of conventional drug therapy with low-intensity LR is recommended.

[Changes in content of biologically active amines in plasma and blood cells in bronchial asthma].

We studied concentration of histamine (Hs), serotonin (St) and catecholamines (CA) in the cells and plasma of venous and capillary blood of 466 patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and 40 controls free of BA. It was found that blood cells sorb, secret Hs, St and CA and participate in exchange of Hs, St and CA between tissues and blood. Contents of Hs, St and CA in BA patients is increased but CA decreased in the cells and plasma of capillary blood. Such distribution between Hs and CA can be explained by changed activity of histidindecarboxilase necessary for histamine synthesis. Capillarovenous difference by Hs, St and CA detected in the control group was also found in BA, being more pronounced in exogenic BA. It is suggested that BA patients have disturbed tissue-blood barrier and systemic alterations of synthesis and utilization of biogenic amines in blood of BA patients.