The Effects of Asthma on the Stress Oxidative, Inflammation, and
Endothelial Dysfunction Characteristics in Children with Severe
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Abstract
Background: Pulmonary vascular endothelial activation, inflammation, and
stress oxidative have been implicated in adverse clinical outcomes of
community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Chronic lung problems such as asthma
may affect the consequences of pneumonia.The present study aimed to
assess the effects of asthma on the oxidative stress, inflammation, and
endothelial dysfunction biomarkers in children pneumonia. Methods: This
cross-sectional study was performed at Amir Kabir Hospital affiliated to
Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Participants were 25
children with severe CAP and asthma (group I), 25 children with severe
CAP (group II), and 25 healthy children (group III) with 2 to 6 years of
age. Fasting blood samples were taken to the assay of serum
malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), tumor necrosis
factor-alpha (TNF-α), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1
(sVCAM-1), and Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Results: We
observed a significant reduction in TAC in groups I and II compared with
group III. This reduction was significantly higher in group I than in
group II. Also, we observed a significant increase in MDA and TNF-α in
groups I and II compared with group III. The increase in MDA was
significantly higher in group I than in group II. VCAM-1 and PAI-1 as
endothelial dysfunction biomarkers increased significantly in group I
compared with groups II and III. Also, VCAM-1 and PAI-1 increased
significantly in group II compared with groups III. Conclusions: Asthma
can exacerbate the consequences of pneumonia in children by increasing
oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.