Survey study, 2012
Does leukotriene C4 cause premenstrual asthma?
No, leukotriene C4 levels do not increase during the premenstrual phase in women with or without premenstrual asthma, suggesting it is not involved in the condition.
What they did
Researchers gave 62 asthmatic women questionnaires about respiratory symptoms and had them measure peak flow readings during one complete menstrual cycle. Blood samples were taken during both the preovulatory phase and the premenstrual phase to measure leukotriene C4 levels.
What they found
Fifty-four percent (34 of 62) of women with asthma had premenstrual asthma, with worsening of 20-40% during the premenstrual phase. Leukotriene C4 levels were similar in preovulatory and premenstrual phases for both women with premenstrual asthma (1.50 vs 1.31 ng/mL, p=0.32) and without (1.40 vs 1.29 ng/mL, p=0.62).
What it means for you
Leukotriene C4 does not appear to be involved in premenstrual asthma, suggesting that anti-leukotriene medications may not help treat this specific condition. The main limitations are that the study only included women with moderate worsening (20-40%), not those with severe asthma worsening, and results may differ in that population.
62
Asthmatic women studied
54.3% (34/62)
Women with premenstrual asthma
1.50 vs 1.31
Leukotriene C4 levels ng/mL (p=0.32, not significant)
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual asthma and leukotriene variations in the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Pereira-Vega A, Sánchez Ramos JL, Maldonado Pérez JA et al.
- Journal
- Allergologia et immunopathologia
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 62
- What was tested
- Measurement of leukotriene C4 levels during different menstrual cycle phases
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.aller.2011.09.007