Due to the great controversy about the role of free radicals in the pathogensis, and the antioxidants in therapy, of asthma we created this study. The concentrations of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Vitamins (A and E) in the plasma and SAL fluid were measured in (20) patients with mild episodic asthma (Group I), (20) patients with severe persistent asthma (Group 11) and (10) healthy controls (Group 111). Basline pulmonary function and methacholine bronchoprovocation tests (for only Group I & III) were also performed. Group I & .11 (asthmatic groups) were given vitamin E (300111) and vitamin A (3000 II1) daily for one week, then the above parameters were repeatecL Asthmatic patients (Groupl & II) had significant higher levels of MDA and lower level of vit A and vit E in both BAL and blood than normal control (P < 0.001). These changes were more statistically evident in Group II than Group I (Pc 0.001). The Group I and if show a significant inverse relation between MDA and vitamins (E & A) levels both in SAL and blood and both before and after therapy (r value was greater than- 0.4 for vitamin A and greater than - 0.6 for vitamin E). Also there was a significant direct relation between the levels of vit A and E and MDA in plasma and their levels in SAL both before and after therapy. Inverse relation between MDA and FEV1, and direct relation between vit E and A levels and FEV1, both in BAL and blood and both before and after therapy was detected in both Group I & II. Also, an inverse relation between PD20 and MDA levels in 13AL and blood was noted in Group |
