Serum Leukotriene 8 4 Levels in Patients with Obstructive Pulmonary Disease s. Seggev, M.D.;*t William H. and '1'h.omlls E. Elks, M. D. *
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Leukotriene B4 has been found to be increased in the serum of cigarette smokers and some patients with bronchial asthma, as well as in the sputum of patients with cystic 6brosis and COPD. Corticosteroids supposedly may block the formation of LTB•• To determine if the effect of CS on airway disease is by reduction in LTB., we studied serum LTB. levels in clinically stable patients with asthma or COPD who were treated with or without CS. The LTB4 was extracted from serum and assayed by radioimmunoassay. Serum LTB. concentrations, expressed as the mean±SD, were 0.36±O.15 nglml in ten normal controls, 0.56±0.18 ng/mI in nine asthmatic subjects, 0.67 ±0.2 nglml in eight asthmatic subjects receiving CS, O.81±0.19 nglml in seven patients with COPD, and O.97±O.29 nglmI in eight patients with COPD receiving CS. Serum LTB4
T eukotriene B. is a metabolite of arachidonic acid in
the lipoxygenase pathway and is released by alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and purified mast cells. 1-5 Leukotriene B. is a potent chemoattractant, as well as activator, for neutrophils and, to a lesser degree, for eosinophils. 6.7 Several effects on lymphocyte function have also been reported. 8 •g Increased serum and plasma LTB4 concentrations of LTB. have been described in patients with asthma. IO •H Increased concentrations of LTB4 have also been described in the serum ofsmokers12 and patients with bronchogenic carcinoma,13 as well as in the sputum of patients with various obstructive airway diseases. Several other inflammatory diseases have been associated with increased LTB. levels.l.us.16 Adrenal CS are well known to be effective in the treatment of asthma}7 They are often used in COPD, although they are effective in only a small number of patients. 18 In this study, we set out to investigate whether asthmatic subjects and patients with COPD differ in
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I.
From the *Department of Medicine and *Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital and the University of Missouri, Columbia. tPresentlyat Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Supported in part by the Medical Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, University of Missouri-eolumbia School of Medicine. Presented in abstract form at the 16th World Congress on Diseases of the Chest and 55th Annual Assembly, American College of Chest Physicians, Boston, Oct 29-Nov 2, 1989. . Manuscript received May 7; revision accepted July 11 Reprint requests: Dr. Seggev, ~/lmmunology Diviskm, Medical
College ofWisconain, MUwaukee 53226
levels in normal controls differed significantly from all groups with CO~D or asthma (p
]Dram
'I7WI1itdti>ff:~-
M.Sc.;i'o"O.
Leukotriene B4 has been found to be increased in the serum of cigarette smokers and some patients with bronchial asthma, as well as in the sputum of patients with cystic 6brosis and COPD. Corticosteroids supposedly may block the formation of LTB•• To determine if the effect of CS on airway disease is by reduction in LTB., we studied serum LTB. levels in clinically stable patients with asthma or COPD who were treated with or without CS. The LTB4 was extracted from serum and assayed by radioimmunoassay. Serum LTB. concentrations, expressed as the mean±SD, were 0.36±O.15 nglml in ten normal controls, 0.56±0.18 ng/mI in nine asthmatic subjects, 0.67 ±0.2 nglml in eight asthmatic subjects receiving CS, O.81±0.19 nglml in seven patients with COPD, and O.97±O.29 nglmI in eight patients with COPD receiving CS. Serum LTB4
T eukotriene B. is a metabolite of arachidonic acid in
the lipoxygenase pathway and is released by alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and purified mast cells. 1-5 Leukotriene B. is a potent chemoattractant, as well as activator, for neutrophils and, to a lesser degree, for eosinophils. 6.7 Several effects on lymphocyte function have also been reported. 8 •g Increased serum and plasma LTB4 concentrations of LTB. have been described in patients with asthma. IO •H Increased concentrations of LTB4 have also been described in the serum ofsmokers12 and patients with bronchogenic carcinoma,13 as well as in the sputum of patients with various obstructive airway diseases. Several other inflammatory diseases have been associated with increased LTB. levels.l.us.16 Adrenal CS are well known to be effective in the treatment of asthma}7 They are often used in COPD, although they are effective in only a small number of patients. 18 In this study, we set out to investigate whether asthmatic subjects and patients with COPD differ in
L
I.
From the *Department of Medicine and *Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital and the University of Missouri, Columbia. tPresentlyat Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Supported in part by the Medical Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, University of Missouri-eolumbia School of Medicine. Presented in abstract form at the 16th World Congress on Diseases of the Chest and 55th Annual Assembly, American College of Chest Physicians, Boston, Oct 29-Nov 2, 1989. . Manuscript received May 7; revision accepted July 11 Reprint requests: Dr. Seggev, ~/lmmunology Diviskm, Medical
College ofWisconain, MUwaukee 53226
levels in normal controls differed significantly from all groups with CO~D or asthma (p
