Innovations for bronchial asthma prevention in children with elevated blood levels of heavy metals

Introduction. Environmental bronchial asthma (BA) prevention in children is urgent since the disease has a severe course and is conventional treatment resistant.

Purpose. Develop innovative BA prevention methods in children with recurrent bronchitis (RB) in environmentally unfavourable areas.

Material. We examined children aged 3-7 years with RB (non-acute condition) and blood levels of such toxicants as lead, chromium+6, nickel and manganese exceeding reference values by 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.3-fold, respectively.

Methods. The proposed technology of environmental BA prevention is based on the complex course of the antileukotriene drug Montelukast* (4 mg at bed time, for 6 months), the enterosorbent Enterosgel (1 teaspoon twice daily, an hour before meals for 10 days/month during 3 months) and a hepatoprotective drug (Eslidine or Chophytol).

Results. An examination carried out a year later showed a 2.7-fold reduction in acute conditions. The number of children having 1-2 acute conditions dropped by 1.8 fold. 79% of the children demonstrated a less severe course of the disease cf. initial 13% (p=0.01). We determined the normalisation of immune indicators (total IgЕ levels decreased from 176.3±18.3 to 98.74±15.23 IU/cm3, p=0.025; lymphocyte count - from 3.64±0.12x109/dm3 to 2.5±0.22x109/dm3; IFN-γ - from 5.30±0.23 to 8.30±0.35 pg/ml) and a redox homeostasis improvement (anti-oxidant activity – from 24.1% to 49.1%, p

Source: Excellence in Paediatrics 2011 (Istanbul, 30 November - 3 December) in the appendix to the journal Acta Paediatrica