[Updated assessment of efficacy of dry air radon baths of different concentrations at the stage of medical rehabilitation of patients with bronchial asthma].

We studied effects of dry air radon baths (DARB) on bronchial hypersensitivity and serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) with reference to the disease severity and radon therapy regimen. DARB with radon concentrations 40 nCi/l significantly raise the threshold of bronchial sensitivity to metacholine compared to control and DARB with radon concentration 20 nCi/l. The effect was the highest in patients with mild asthma. Comparison of serum levels of alpha- and gamma-interferons, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 has shown that alpha radon radiation significantly increases serum gamma-interferon and reduces IL-4 concentration. These changes were more evident in the group with high radon content. Thus, radon therapy has immunomodulating activity.