Abstract

The increased inflamatory reaction in asthmatic patients is thought to be responsible for the changes in the lipid metabolism by affecting the pulmonary surfactant synthesis. In this study, serum total cholesterol, trigliseride, high density lipoprotein [HDL], low density lipoprotein [LDL], very low density lipoprotein [VLDL] profile changes in asthma patients were investigated during acute attacks and stable periods. The serum lipid levels of 30 asthmatic patients with an acute attack were measured twice (at the 1st day of the attack and at the 21st day of the asthma therapy), while blood samples of 36 stable asthmatic patients who did not have any attack for the last 6 months and of 24 healthy controls were measured once. Serum HDL level was found to be significantly higher during the acute attack (61.6±10.0 mg/dl), compared to the post attack period (51.1±9.4 mg/dl) and the levels measured in the stable asthma group (52.5±15.6 mg/dl) (p<0.05). Whereas serum trigliseride levels were found to be lower during the acute attack (124.1±84.8 mg/dl), compared to the post attack period (142±92 mg/dl) and the stable asthma group (162.9±95.4 mg/dl) (p<0.05). There was not any significant difference between the three groups with respect to serum total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL values. As a result, we observed that there was an increase in serum HDL levels and a decrease in serum trigliseride levels of asthma patients during acute attack. During acute attacks significant changes may occur in the lipid parameters of the asthmatic patients compared with the levels of serum lipid in the stable periods of this disease.