Leukotriene C4in Children with Atopic Asthma I. Plasma Levels in Acute Asthma

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Abstract
The leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4 are potent biologic mediators, and are thought to play an important role in obstructive airways disease such as asthma. In this study, plasma immunoreactive LTC4 (iLTC4) levels in asthmatic children were measured using radioimmunoassay after Sep-pak extraction in order to determine whether LTC4 is released in vivo during an asthmatic attack. In 10 non-atopic children, the mean +/- SEM of plasma iLTC4 level was 0.031 +/- 0.013 pmol/ml. Significantly higher plasma iLTC4 levels were recognized at all stages in asthmatic children, both in remission (p less than 0.01) and during an attack (p less than 0.01). PaO2 levels during an attack were significantly lower in the high iLTC4 group. In 15 asthmatic children, the plasma iLTC4 levels during an attack (0.134 +/- 0.017 pmol/ml) significantly decreased during recovery (0.078 +/- 0.012 pmol/ml) (p less than 0.05). Plasma iLTC4 levels correlated closely with lung function (p less than 0.01). The high iLTC4 levels in plasma in asthmatic children suggest a role for LTC4 in the pathophysiology of asthma.

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