CHARACTERISTICS OF LIPID METABOLISM IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Abstract

In order to assess the state of lipid metabolism, blood plasma and erythrocyte membranes were studied in 25 patients with severe asthma during the exacerbation of the disease and after the treatment with zafirlukast. We established a unidirectional change in the ratio of essential fatty acids, phospholipids and the content of TBA-active end product of lipoperoxidation - malondialdehyde in blood plasma and erythrocyte membranes that were particularly pronounced during the exacerbation. A statistically significant decrease was found in the total amount of saturated compounds - pentadecanoic, palmitic, margaric and stearic, polyunsaturated ω-9, oleic and linoleic acids while the level of ω-6 arachidonic acid was increased. Changes in phospholipid spectrum included increase in the content of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and lysophosphatidylcholine and reduction in the amount of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. There was an intensification of lipid peroxidation in blood cells and tissues of the lung, which appeared as accumulation of TBA-reactive products (malondialdehyde) in the peripheral blood. Zafirlukast treatment did not lead to the effective elimination of lipid metabolism disorders, which was reflected in the development of oxidative stress maintaining chronic inflammation in the lungs.