Lipid peroxides in stable asthmatics receiving inhaled steroids and long-acting beta2 -agonists.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The effect of inhaled steroids on oxidative stress in asthmatics is unclear. The levels of lipid peroxides in the serum of asthmatic patients, whose symptoms were controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta(2)-agonists, were measured in this study. METHODS: Twenty asthmatic patients and 17 matched, healthy controls were recruited. Oxidative stress levels were quantified by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. RESULTS: After 3 months of treatment, the mean lipid peroxide concentrations were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in the healthy controls (4.2 +/- 0.13 micromol/mL vs. 3.6 +/- 0.07 micromol/mL, respectively). CONCLUSION: The level of lipid peroxides is higher in patients with asthma than in healthy controls, even when the asthma is well controlled after 3 months of treatment. A longer period of therapy may be required before lipid peroxidation normalizes.