Estimation of cortisol levels and some antioxidants in asthma patients

Abstract

Asthma is multiple inflammatory disease influenced by the interference betweengenetic and environmental factors where changes in some physiological, immunologicaland genetic factors can lead to disease progression. Therefore, this study was conductedto estimate the levels of cortisol and some antioxidants (glutathione, albumin and totalprotein) for a group of asthmatic patients.Blood samples were collected from (70) patients with asthma for both sexes (39females and 31 males) ranging from 1875- years old. They were diagnosed by specialistsat Al Zahraa Center for Allergy and Asthma in Baghdad and (20) persons Healthy peopleof both sexes with similar ages. Blood was separated for Serum for hormonal andphysiological tests. The enzyme-sorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to measurethe level of cortisol, while the other biochemical tests were measured using opticalspectrophotometer.The results showed a significant increase (P <0.01) in the cortisol levels of thepatients group compared with healthy group, while the levels of antioxidants (albumin,clotathione and total protein) decreased in serum patients compared with healthygroup at a significant level (P < 0.01).We conclude that there is a relationship between the high level of cortisol hormoneand low level of the biochemical tests and asthma, which can lead to increased severityof the disease.