Changes in levels of catalase and glutathione in erythrocytes of patients with stable asthma, treated with beclomethasone dipropionate

In asthmatic patients, antioxidant defence is decreased. Although Inhaled c orticosteroids decrease asthmatic inflammation and modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, little is known of their effect on cellular anti oxidant levels, The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP; 1,000 mu g.day(-1)) on erythrocyte antio xidant levels in stable asthmatic patients. Forty patients with stable, mild asthma were treated in a double-blind, pla cebo-controlled, parallel-group study with BDP 250 mu g, two puffs b.i.d. f or 6 weeks. At entry and every 2 weeks during treatment, erythrocyte antiox idant levels, haematological parameters, pulmonary function tests and asthm a symptoms were determined. The results show that during treatment with BDP, erythrocyte catalase level s increased (at entry (mean+/-SEM) 41+/-4, after 6 weeks 54+/-4 mu mol H2O2 .min(-1) g haemoglobin (Hb)(-1) p=0.05 in comparison with placebo). Erythro cyte total glutathione levels significantly decreased after 6 weeks treatme nt with BDP (from 7.0+/-0.4 to 6.6+/-0.3 mu mol.g Hb (p=0.04)). In the BDP- treated patients, blood eosinophil counts were higher in patients who respo nded with an increase in erythrocyte catalase levels during BDP treatment, as compared to those not responding ((mean+/-SEM) 340+/-39 and 153+/-52 x 1 0(6) cells.L-1, respectively, p=0.05), The present study shows that treatme nt with inhaled bedomethasone dipropionate results in changes in antioxidan t levels in erythrocytes of patients with stable, mild asthma.