Arterial dysfunction and systemic inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Background. The objective of this study was to estimate a vascular wall status of large arteries and function of endothelium in patients with different clinical forms of bronchial asthma throughout the disease progression. 220 patients with bronchial asthma have been examined, including 106 persons with moderate asthma ( 1 st group), 61 persons with severe asthma (2 nd group), and 53 persons with steroid-dependent asthma. Control group was formed from 40 healthy donors. Methods. We have assessed parameters of external respiration, arterial rigidity, and the levels of TNFα, IL-6, sCD31 (sPECAM-1), CRP in the peripheral blood at the time of exacerbation and 48 weeks later. Results. We found elevation of IL-6 and TNFα levels in all the tested groups in the period of exacerbation comparing to the control group (p