SERUM LEAD, COPPER AND ZINC IN CHILDREN WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Background: Bronchial asthma is chronic inflammatory of the lung airways resulting in episodic airflow obstruction. Lead exposure results in alteration of immune system function resulting in asthma. Zinc, copper are component of antioxidant system and alteration of their level affect increase risk of asthma.
Objective:. Determine the serum level of lead, zinc, copper in children with bronchial asthma and study their relation to development of asthma
Patients and methods: The patient group included 38 full-term newborn infants diagnosed as having bronchial asthma who were selected from pediatric department Benha Teaching Hospital. The control group included 17 healthy child age and sex matched C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by the ELISA technique (highly sensitive CRP). ESR was performed by the Wintrobe method, Serum lead was determined by atomic absorption method. Serum copper and zinc were determined by calorimetric method.
Results: Serum copper and zinc were elevated in asthmatic children compared to controls with no relation to clinical manifestations or laboratory parameters .Serum lead showed no difference among patients and controls however it increased in severe cases compared moderate and mild cases and correlated positively with duration of admission.
Conclusion:. : We determined serum copper, zinc and lead in children with bronchial asthma. We found elevated serum copper and zinc in asthmatic children compared to controls with no relation to clinical manifestations or laboratory parameters .Serum lead showed no difference among patients and controls, however it increased in severe cases compared moderate and mild cases and correlated positively with duration of admission. These results indicate importance of environmental exposure as a risk factor of asthma in children