Abstract
Objective: of this study was to evaluate impact of urinary leukotriene E4 in asthmatic children during acute asthma exacerbation. Also, correlate it with total serum IgE level in relation to asthma severity.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted in emergency room of pediatric department, Benha University hospitals in the period from November 2011 to May 2012. Sixty three children with acute asthma exacerbation (group Ι) and twenty five healthy children as control (group Π) were included in this study. Their age ranged between 3-14 years, all children were subjected to full medical history laying stress on symptoms of asthma exacerbation and complete clinical examination. Total serum IgE (T.s.IgE) and urinary leukotriene E4 (ULTE4) were measured by ELISA after taking the parents consent. LTE4 concentration was measured in urine samples obtained at onset of admission and adjusted by urinary creatinine concentrations.
Results: urinary leukotriene E4 Levels were significantly higher in cases compared to controls (309.7±97.1 vs 14.5±5.7 pg/mg creatinine respectively). It correlated positively to both T.s.IgE and asthma severity in the cases. Also, T.s.IgE levels increased significantly in cases (392.1±309.7 IU/ml) than controls (45.5±22.1 IU/ml).
Conclusion: ULTE4 and T.s.IgE levels are significantly elevated during acute asthma episodes in children. The significant positive correlation between severity of these attacks and ULTE4 levels make it a good non invasive marker for monitoring acute asthma exacerbations and follow up of the inflammatory process in asthmatic children.
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