%0 Journal Article
%T Changes in plasma IL4, TNF¨¢ and CRP in response to regular passive smoking at home among healthy school children in Khartoum, Sudan
%A TH Merghani
%A A Saeed
%A A Alawad
%J African Health Sciences
%D 2012
%I Makerere University Medical School
%X Background: Regular exposure to tobacco smoke at home causes airway inflammation and altered cytokine regulation; however, there is variation between individuals of different countries. Objective: To determine effects of passive smoking on plasma IL4, TNF¨¢, and CRP in healthy male school-children in Khartoum. Methods: A total of 135 male school-pupils (69 passive smokers and 66 non-smokers) were selected randomly from three primary schools for boys in Khartoum. Information about smoking history was collected from each pupil and his parents using a questionnaire. Plasma CRP, IL4 and TNF¨¢ were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. Results: Plasma IL4 and TNF¨¢ in the passive smokers (mean ¡À SEM) is at  2.92 ¡À 0.93 and 19.78 ¡À 4.67 pg/ml respectively; whereas in the non-smokers . It is at 0.45 ¡À 0.28 and 5.05 ¡À 1.54 pg/ml respectively. The difference between the two groups is statistically significant (p <0.05). The mean plasma IL4 and TNF¨¢ were lowest with no exposure, higher with moderate exposure, and highest with heavy exposure (P < 0.05). Plasma CRP showed insignificant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Passive smoking causes significant rise in plasma TNF¨¢ and IL4 with a dose dependent effect among schoolpupils in Khartoum.
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ahs/article/view/75617