Haematological and lipid profile assays in Nigerian asthmatics

【摘要】  Objective: To assess the haematological and lipid profile assays in asthmatics. Methods: Eighty asthmatic subjects were prospectively studied in a major referral centre serving the Niger Delta region of Nigeria for 12 months (2006��2007). Clinico�瞙aematological and serum lipid total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and lipoproteins concentration were analyzed after adjusting for age, cigarette smoking, alcohol ingestion, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Results: Eighty patients (34 males and 46 females) were seen with female predominating in the various age groups (M∶F ratio, 0.7∶1). Total cholesterol and low density lipoproteins�瞔holesterol for the asthmatics was significantly higher than the controls (P<0.000 1), while the ratio of TC∶HDL�睠(high density lipoprotein�瞔holesterol) in asthmatics was 3.67 compared to the control value of 3.01. TC and low density lipoprotein�瞔holesterole( LDL�睠) were significantly higher in females than the males (P<0.05). There was a combined hypertriglyceridemia (HT, >2.3mmol/L) and a significant hypercholesterolemia (HC, >5.2mmol/L) according to the Adult Treatment Panel III definition in asthmatics thereby putting them at increased risk for the development of cardiovascular disease as well as other disorders related to excess lipids. There was a significant thrombocytopenia (P<0.000 1) which may accompany allergen exposure and this persists for 24 h; that asthmatics of African descent showed a significantly increased total leucocyte count (P=0.001) similar to other studies in the Western countries. Conclusion: Hyperlipidaemia is a preva lent medical problem among asthmatics; hence screening for fasting serum lipid levels to identify those who need early intervention is recommended.

【關鍵詞】  Asthma; Lipidaemia; Haematological values; Hypercholesterolemia

　INTRODUCTION醫學職稱論文發表

　　Lipid and Lipoprotein assays (LPA) form one of the special investigations in vascular disease conditions[1��4] and in most chemical pathology laboratories worldwide. The importance of LPA is fast increasing in many developing countries including Nigeria. Dyslipidaemia has been found to occur as a result of change in diet to high fatty foods (high levels of saturated fats elevate serum lipids) Caucasian lifestyle[5��7]. LPA and its application in the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases (including ischaemic heart disease) and monitoring of diabetic patients has been emphasized[8, 9]; while on the contrary there is paucity of information on LPA levels in asthmatics. Al�睸hawwa et al[10] in a recent report stated that the effect of hyperlipidaemia (HL) on asthma has not been fully addressed; and concluded that hypercholesterolemia is a potential risk factor independent of obesity. Recent literature implicates a proinflammatory role for hypercholesterolemia in asthma with multiple cell types involved in the pathophysiology of asthmatics.

　　Hyperlipidaemia, a combination of hypertriglyceridaemia (HT) and hypercholesterolemia (HC) may either primarily be due to genetically determined disorders or secondary as a result of acquired causes[11��15]. These include obese individuals, alcoholics, individuals of high social status as well as malnourished children[16]. Several studies, however, have shown beneficial effects of reversing hyperlipidaemia by either primary or secondary prevention[17��19]. This has been well established in various disease conditions and c