Abstract

The stimulation of vascular endothelium cells may take place during inflammatory process. The aim of the study was to determine concentrations of antigen of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA Ag) and antigen of von Willebrand factor in the blood of patients with bronchial asthma as the markers of vascular endothelium activity. Therefore, the concentration of t-PA Ag (test Immulise/t-PA by Biopol) and vWf Ag (ELISA method according to Dako) were determined in venous blood of 41 patients with bronchial asthma diagnosed recently as well as 22 healthy volunteers. When compared with control group, patients with bronchial asthma displayed statistically significantly higher values of t-PA Ag (p<0.01) and vWf Ag (p<0.01) concentrations. The results of our study suggest that the coexistence of higher t-PA Ag and vWf Ag concentrations in subjects with bronchial asthma may be the evidence for the role of endothelium cells in the pathogenesis of inflammation.

Keywords: von Willebrand Factor, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, bronchial asthma