Alterations of serum and saliva oxidative markers in patients with bronchial asthma.

Backgrounds: The development of asthma is highly affected by exposure to exogenous and endogenous oxidative molecules, but the impact of this exposure on the pathophysiology of asthma has received little attention.

Objectives: Evaluating group of selective oxidative stress markers as a tool in the management of asthma disease.

Methods: In comparison with matched healthy controls, levels of the oxidant and antioxidant markers: lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA), Total glutathione (tGSH), Uric acid (UA), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Catalase (CAT) superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in serum and saliva of different asthma groups.

Results: All oxidative markers in serum and saliva of asthma patients showed significant alterations from normal healthy controls ( < 0.05), except the salivary SOD ( = 0.441). Their levels in serum were significantly correlated with asthma severity ( < 0.05), and the distinguishing between childhood and adult asthma was significantly accomplished by GPx, SOD, TAC markers ( < 0.05). However, in patients with childhood asthma no significant differences were detected between the levels of GPx, CAT, UA, MDA in serum and saliva samples ( > 0.05).

Conclusion: Determination of the oxidative markers GPx, CAT, UA in serum or saliva can distinguish asthma from healthy states. The serum levels of UA and TAC are highly effective in monitoring asthma severity, while the salivary GPx, CAT, UA, MDA are beneficial in the management of childhood asthma. Discrimination of the age factor between asthma groups can be achieved by testing GPx, SOD, TAC in serum.