Background Asthma is a major public health problem with a high economic burden. It involves several inflammatory cells
and multiple mediators.Granzyme B is an inflammatory mediator expressed and secreted by both immune and non immune cells.
Recently it was found to play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma.The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of both
inhaled and oral corticosteroids on sputum granzyme B in asthmatic patients with moderate severity.methodsThe study included
25 patients with moderate persistent asthma plus 15 healthy subjects as a control group. Granzyme B was measured before
treatment with corticosteroids then after inhalation therapy and after oral therapy. results It was found that:As expected
pulmonary function parameters were significantly lower in patients than in controls.Sputum granzyme B levels were significantly
higher in asthmatic patients than in controls.Sputum granzyme B levels were significantly lower after treatment with inhaled
corticosteroids than basal levels.Oral corticosteroids further significantly lowered granzyme B, but the lowering effect of inhaled
steroids was significantly higher than that of oral drugs.There was no statistically significant correlation between granzyme B and
PFTs in asthmatic patients.. In conclusion Granzyme B levels are elevated in bronchial asthma.Granzyme B could play a role in
the pathogenenesis of bronchial asthma.Both inhaled and oral corticosteroids lowered granzyme B levels significantly.The
lowering effect of inhaled corticosteroids on sputum granzyme B is more than that of the oral.