Mohammed Abdel Fattah Abdel Motey

Citation:

Fattah MA, Baz ME, Abulata N, Salah S. "Adrenomedullin in acute asthmatic children." Journal of Arab Child. 2013;24(1). copy at www.tinyurl.com/p257p2q

Abstract:

Background: acute asthma is frequently encountered in children. Adrenomedullin (AM) was previously detected in lung tissue, but its pathophysiological significance in airway inflammation is still unclear. This study aimed at investigating the plasma levels of AM in a group of children with acute asthma.
Patients and Methods: This case - control study included 40 children as cases and 40 matched healthy children as controls. All candidates were subjected to a complete clinical study upon inclusion, with emphasis on symptoms and signs of acute asthma. A complete blood count (CBC) was withdrawn and plasma AM levels were assayed by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: severity of acute asthma was mild in 27.5% of cases, moderate in 57.5% and severe in 15% of them. Plasma AM levels were significantly higher in acute asthmatics compared to normal controls (p < 0.001). Again, there was a significant direct correlation between plasma AM and severity of acute asthma (Spearman’s rho = 0.430, p = 0.006).
Conclusions: plasma AM was significantly elevated in acute asthmatic children with significant direct correlation with severity of acute attack. AM might have a role in the regulation of pediatric acute asthma.

Keywords: Asthma, children, adrenomedullin