Extracellular phospholipase A2(PLA2) is known to be secreted by the mononucleocytes, granulocytes and chondrocytes in the joint, and it is also reported that this enzyme is increased in inflammatory conditions. such as acute
pancreatitis,
sepsis, ARDS and arthritis. To evaluate the changes of PLA2 in the asthmatics the authors measured extracellular PLA2 of asthmatics and healthy individuals in their serum and urine. In 84 normal controls, the levels of PLA2 activity in serum
and
urine were 177.26±130.68U/ml and 127.56±87.04 U/ml, respectively. There was significant difference between male and female groups in serum and urine.
In 51 asthmatics, the levels of PLA2 activity in serum and urine were 739.10±454.52 U/ml and 292.50±154.49 U/ml, respectively.
These were significantly higher than those of healthy controls in both serum and urine. No significant correlation was found between serum PLA2 activity and peripheral blood eosinophil count and there was no significant difference in serum
PLA2
activity between symptomatic asthmatics and asymptomatic asthmatics. However the level of serum PLA2 activity in asymptomatic asthmatics was still higher than that of healthy controls.
Receiving steroids seems to make no difference in serum PLA2 activity in asymptomatic asthmatics.
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