Study, 2002
Does asthma get worse before menstruation because of airway inflammation?
Yes. Women with asthma that worsens before their period have more inflammation in their airways at that time. The differences were clear.
What they did
11 women with asthma symptoms that worsened before their period were studied. During one menstrual cycle, they recorded their peak breathing flow, symptoms, and inhaler use daily. They also had breathing tests and inflammation tests measured twice: once on day 7 of their cycle and again on day 26, about 3 days before the next period.
What they found
Before menstruation, inflammation markers in the airways increased. A marker called FENO was 29.25 ppb before menstruation and 9.16 ppb after. Daytime symptom scores were higher before menstruation. White blood cells called eosinophils in sputum samples were 6.63 percent before menstruation and 4.09 percent after.
What it means for you
Asthma that gets worse before a period involves real inflammation in the airways, not just the airways getting narrower. The study was small (11 women), so larger studies are needed to confirm whether this applies to other women with this type of asthma.
11
Women studied
29.25 ppb
FENO level before menstruation
6.63%
Eosinophils before menstruation
About the study
- Original title
- Airway inflammation in premenstrual asthma
- Authors
- Oguzulgen IK, Turktas H, Erbas D
- Journal
- The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None. Measurements compared at two points in the menstrual cycle.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1081/jas-120004921