Moses O. Akiibinu and Timothy O. Kolawole
Oxidative stress and inflammation are possible cons equences of cellular activation in many disease conditions. There is a dearth of information on the status of these products of cellular activation in Nigerian asthmatics. This study assessed the levels of markers of oxidative stress (products of cellul ar activation) and C-reactive protein (a marker of inf lammatory response) in Nigerian asthmatics. Twenty- two known asthmatics (12 males; 10 females; age=16. 3+ 2.8 years) with resent allergic reaction volunteered to participate in this study. Twenty ap parently normal individual (12 males; 8 females; age=15.1+ 3.2 years) without history of asthma or resent alle rgic reactions were selected as controls. Plasma levels of total plasma peroxide (TPP), total antioxidant potential (TAP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined in the two groups using spectrophotometric methods and immunodiffusion (Macinni) methods respectively. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was determined as the percent ratio of TPP and TAP. Significantly hig her levels of TPP (p<0.02), OSI (p<0.001), MDA (p=0.01) and CRP (p<0.01) were observed in the asth matics when compared with controls. There was no significant (p>0.2) change in the plasma level o f TAP in the asthmatics when compared with the controls. Cellular activation-induced oxidative str ess and inflammation are possible features of asthma.
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