Nada Omer Al, Lamia Mustafa Al Naama, Meaad Kadhum Hassan.
Antioxidant status in acute asthmatic attack in children.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;71(12):1023-7.

Objectives: To determine the oxidant - antioxidant imbalance in asthmatic children, by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidant marker of lipid peroxidation as well as antioxidant compounds like vitamin C, vitamin E and uric acid and to investigate whether their concentrations are associated with more severe asthma. Methods: This case controlled prospective study was conducted on 219 children aged 1-12 years, attending Basra Maternity and Children Hospital. Included were 98 asthmatic children during acute attack and 121 non-asthmatic, apparently healthy children. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidant marker of lipid peroxidation, and vitamin C, vitamin E and uric acid (as antioxidants) were estimated in asthmatic children during acute attack and compared with non-asthmatic children. Results: Asthmatic children during exacerbation of their asthma have significant lower serum levels of antioxidant compounds like vitamin C, vitamin E and uric acid (p<0.001) and significantly high malondialdehyde as compared with the controls. MDA was significantly elevated (P< 0.001), while that of vitamin C, vitamin E and uric acid were significantly decreased with increasing severity of asthmatic attack (P<0.001). A significant negative correlation between MDA with vitamin C (P<0.05, r = - 0.44) was observed in severe asthmatic attacks. Conclusion: Asthmatic patients during acute attack suffer a high degree of reactive oxygen species formation causing considerable oxidative stress that is indicated by the high level of oxidants (MDA) and low level of antioxidants (JPMA 60:1023; 2010).

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