الفهرس 
REVIEW OF LITERATUREOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases with a significant mortality and morbidity rates affecting children, despite of understanding of its pathogenesis and improved methods of treatment, it is still increasing of prevalence.This paradox necessitate continuing efforts both to review current knowledge’s and search for new insights into the causes of this complex disorder.
Mast cell is one of the prime inflammatory cells central to development of inflammation in asthma. Histamine was found to be performed in mast cells and basophilic granules, released on degranulation. Histamine produce its effects through cAMP such as airway smooth muscle contraction, vascular leakage and stimulate airway goblet cells secretion.
Atrial natriuretic peptide “ANP” is a one of natriuretic peptide hormones, synthesized mainly within monocytes of heart. Also it was found that ANP synthesized in alveolar cells II of lungs and has a local protective mechanisms to prevent the formation of fluid and pulmonary edema by its diuretic and natriuretic actions. On the other hands, various studies reported that ANP has a bronchodilator and vasorelaxant actions through smooth muscle relaxation by increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate “cGMP”.
The aim of this study is to better define and asses the roles of ANP and histamine, their plasma levels and the possible relationship between each others in asthmatics and its subgroups during exacerbation and quiescent stages comparing them with those of healthy age and sex matched controls.
In order to achieve the goal of this work 30 asthmatics (22 asthmatics with mild attacks and 8 asthmatics with moderate attacks) and 20 healthy age and sex matched controls were included and all studied groups were attending the chest clinic of El-Menoufiya University Hospital. The patients were classified into:
Group I ( Asthmatic groups ): 30 children suffering from acute attacks of bronchial asthma and followed up to stable conditions, and further classified into two subgroups: