Premenstrual asthma and leukotriene variations in the menstrual cycle

Background: Several authors have reported an increase in leukotriene C4 in the premenstrual phase in women with severe premenstrual asthma, indicating that antileukotrienes could be used in treatment. Objective: To analyse the role of leukotrienes in premenstrual asthma. Methods: A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and peak flow during one complete menstrual cycle was given to women of fertile age to define them as asthmatics who suffered from premenstrual asthma or not. Premenstrual asthma (PMA) was defined as a clinical or functional deterioration (major=20%) in the premenstrual phase compared with the preovulatory phase. Blood samples to measure leukotriene C4 were taken during the preovulatory and premenstrual phases. Results: Blood samples were taken in 62 asthmatic women, 34 of whom (54.3%) presented PMA criteria, all with a premenstrual deterioration of between 20 and 40%. There was no difference in leukotriene C4 levels between the preovulatory and premenstrual phases in the women who suffered from PMA (1.50ng/mL vs. 1.31ng/mL; p=0.32) and those who did not (1.40ng/mL vs. 1.29ng/mL; p=0.62). Neither were there any differences in leukotriene levels between women with or without PMA. The results were similar for each category of asthma severity. Conclusions: Our data show that leukotriene C4 does not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of premenstrual asthma, or support the use of anti-leukotrienes in the specific treatment of premenstrual asthma, at least in women with a moderate premenstrual deterioration. No differences appeared in any of the categories of asthma severity(AU)

Documento de consenso sobre asma bronquial en Andalucía / No disponible

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Asma premenstrual, relación con la severidad del asma y su apreciación subjetiva / Premenstrual Asthma, relation between the severity of the asthma and its subjective appreciation

Introducción: diversos estudios, aunque con resultados dispares, han relacionado el asma premenstrual (AP) con la severidad delasma. Por otra parte, no existe uniformidad respecto al hecho de que las pacientes con AP manifiesten una percepción subjetiva de empeoramiento de su asma en el periodo premenstrual. Objetivo: estudiar en mujeres asmáticas, con o sin criterios de AP, la relación con la clasificación del asma (GINA 2005) y el hecho de manifestar un empeoramiento de su asma en el periodo premenstrual. Material y método: se ha realizado un estudio observacional trasversal sobre una población de mujeres asmáticas en edad fértil en las que se realizó un cuestionario en el que se recogía, entre otros aspectos, la clasificación del asma (GINA 2005) y el hecho de manifestar un empeoramiento de los síntomas asmáticos en el periodo premenstrual. Por otra parte, se recogía diariamente durante un ciclo menstrual completo un cuestionario de síntomas respiratorios–SR– (tos, disnea, sibilancias y opresión torácica) y los valores depeak flow (PF) matutino y vespertino durante dicho ciclo. Se considera AP al empeoramiento > 20% en el PF y/o en los síntomas asmáticos (>20%) en el periodo premenstrual. Resultados: hasta el momento, han completado la recogida de los cuestionarios y los valores de PF, en los distintos hospitales participantes,82 pacientes. (6 graves, 29 moderados, 26 persistentes leves y 21 intermitentes leves). De ellas, 35 (42,7%; IC 95%: 31,96-53,41) presentaban criterios clínicos de asma premenstrual. Presentaban criterios funcionales 3 de las mujeres (3,7%), cumpliendo todas ellas también criterios clínicos. El asma premenstrual se distribuyó con frecuencia similar en los distintos grupos de gravedad(p=0,98). Las mujeres con AP reconocían con mayor frecuencia(61,8% frente a 40,4%) el empeoramiento premenstrual de sus síntomas (p=0,06).(..) (AU)

Introduction: A number of studies, although with incongruent results, have related premenstrual asthma (PA) to the severity of the asthma. On the other hand, there is no uniformity regarding the fact that patients with PA express a subjective perception of a worsening of their asthma during the premenstrual period. Objective: To study asthmatic women with/without PA criteria, the relationship between the classification of the asthma (GINA2005) and whether there is a worsening of their asthma during the premenstrual period. Materials and method: A transverse observational study was carried out on a population of fertile, asthmatic women, who completed a questionnaire in which included, amongst other aspects, the asthma classification (GINA 2005) and whether there was a manifest worsening of the asthmatic symptoms during the premenstrual period. On the other hand, a questionnaire of respiratory symptoms (RS), including cough, dyspnea, sibilance and thoracic oppression, was completed daily, during a complete menstrual cycle, plus the Peak Flow values in the morning and evening during this cycle. PA is consider edif there is a worsening >20% during the PF and/or in the asthmatic symptoms (>20%) during the premenstrual period. Results: Up to now, the completed questionnaires have been collected and the values of the Peak Flow (PF), at the different participating hospitals, 82 patients (6 serious, 29 moderate, 26 persistent light and21 intermittent light). Of these, 35 (42.7%; IC95%: 31.96-53.41) presented clinical criteria of Premenstrual Asthma. Three of the women presented functional criteria (3.7%), all them also fulfilling clinical criteria. Premenstrual asthma was distributed with a similar frequently in the different groups of seriousness (p=0.98). The women with PA recognized with more frequency (61.8% as against 40.4%) the premenstrual worsening of their symptoms (p=0.06). (..) (AU)

Situación actual en el manejo del asma en Andalucía y Extremadura. Posibles líneas de mejora / No disponible

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Inmunoterapia y asma / No disponible

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