Oxidative and antioxidative status of children with acute bronchiolitis

Objective: Oxidative stress has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of acute and chronic lung inflammatory diseases. This article aimed to evaluate the oxidant/antioxidant status of children with acute bronchiolitis through the measurement of plasma total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index. Methods: Children with acute bronchiolitis admitted to the pediatric emergency department of a university hospital between January and April of 2012 were compared with age-matched healthy controls. Patients with acute bronchiolitis were classified as mild and moderate bronchiolitis. Oxidative and antioxidative status were assessed by measurement of plasma total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index. Results: Thirty-one children with acute bronchiolitis aged between 3 months and 2 years, and 39 healthy children were included. Total oxidative status (TOS) was higher in patients with acute bronchiolitis than the control group (5.16 ± 1.99 μmol H2O2 versus 3.78 ± 1.78 μmol H2O2 [p = 0.004]). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was lower in children with bronchiolitis than the control group (2.51 ± 0.37 μmol Trolox eqv/L versus 2.75 ± 0.39 μmol Trolox eqv/L [p = 0.013]). Patients with moderate bronchiolitis presented higher TOS levels than those with mild bronchiolitis and the control group (p = 0.03, p