Eosinophil counts and leukotriene C4 and D4 levels in adult asthmatics seen at Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
Forty four asthmatic patients, 20 females and
24 males with mean age of 40 years (range 18 years - 65 years)
were studied during the period 1987 - 1988 as they presented
at Kenyatta National Hospital (K.N.H.) casualty department
or ohest clinic. None of the patients had taken any
medications in the preceding two weeks. Leukotrienes
04 and D4 (LTC4, LTD4) levela were determined by
radioimmunoassay. Peak expirato y flow rate (P.E.F.R.) of
the subjects were compared with that expected for the age,-
sex and height and expressed as a percentage. Totaland
differential white cell count was done and eosinophil count
calculated by multiplying the total white cell count by the
percentage eosinophils. In addition 18 normal individuals,
12 males and 6 females had their serum LTC4 and LTD4 levels
determinedo
83.3% of chronic asthmatics had eosinophilia,
16.7% had normal eosinophil counts and none had eosinopenia.
Their average P.E.F.R. was 66% ± 7.6 (S.D.). Leukotrienes
were undetectable by the method used. There was an inverse
relationship between P.E.F.R. and eosinophil count (P(O.Ol) •
21.4% of the patients with acute asthma had
eosinophilia, 14.3% had eosinopenia and 64.3% had normal
eosinophil counts. LTC4/ LTD4 ranged from 100 - 300 pg I mlo
They had a mean P.E.F.R. of 25.6% (S.D. 22%). There was
neither a relationship between PEFR and eosi~ophil count nor
was there any relationship between eosinophil count and
LTC4 / LTD4 levels. There was a significant inverse
relationship between LTC 4 I" LTD4 levels and PEFR •
•
In stable asthmatics the average eosinophil
count was 202 x 109/L• 83.3% had normal eosinophil counts,
16.7% had mild eosinophilia and none had eosinopenia
none of the normal individuals had detectable
Citation
Degree Of Master of Medicine (Medicine) in the university of NairobiPublisher
School of Medicine
Description
A dissertation presented in part
fulfilment for the Degree Of
Master of Medicine (Medicine) in
the university of Nairobi