| Abstract: | AIM: Analysis of insulin-reactive system of erythrocytes and carbohydrate metabolism in bronchial asthma (BA) at cell and other levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 106 patients with BA, 26 healthy subjects and 10 healthy subjects with familial history of atopy participated in the study. Glucose tolerance and colorimetric tests were made to measure glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, respectively. Erythrocytic insulin reactivity was assessed using an original method. Bronchial resistance was determined and specific bronchial conduction was calculated. Acetylcholine test was conducted before and after a single inhalation of 5% isoosmolar glucose solution. RESULTS: Atopic BA was characterized by a trend to hypoglycemia, low glycosylation of red cell hemoglobin, impaired membrane transport of glucose in red cells, a hypoglycemic type of glucose tolerance test curve, a paradoxical reaction of erythrocytes to insulin and adrenaline--release of glucose. CONCLUSION: The detected changes in cell insulin reactivity in atopic BA and positive effects of 5% glucose solution inhalations on bronchial hyperreactivity in BA patients provide grounds for development of new therapeutic approaches in BA. |
