Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2014 Nov;2(5):332-336. 10.4168/aard.2014.2.5.332.

Increased inflammatory mediator in exhaled breath condensate from asthmatic children

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kwkim@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
There has recently been increasing interest in the use of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) as a simple noninvasive means for understanding the physiology of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the EBC of asthmatic children.
METHODS
We measured LTB4 and ECP levels in EBC from children aged 6-14 years, including healthy children (n=25) and asthmatic children (n=25). We also measured serum LTB4 and serum ECP. Pulmonary function tests and methacholine challenge tests were performed on all subjects.
RESULTS
Exhaled LTB4 levels were increased significantly in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (7.1+/-3.7 pg/mL vs. 2.2+/-1.7 pg/mL, P<0.05). Serum LTB4 levels were not significantly different in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (674.7+/-484.1 pg/mL vs. 487.1+/-272.0 pg/mL, P=0.156,) and no significant correlations were found between exhaled and serum LTB4 concentrations in children with asthma (r=0.052, P=0.758). Exhaled ECP levels were not significantly different in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (P=0.419). Serum ECP levels were significantly increased in patients with asthma compared to normal subjects (44.37+/-32.14 microg/L vs. 16.40+/-13.23 microg/L, P=0.001).
CONCLUSION
We found significantly elevated LTB4 levels in the EBC of asthmatic children. Our results suggest that EBC may be one of the supportive tools to measure airway inflammation in children with asthma.

Keyword

Asthma; Exhaled breath condensate; Leukotriene B4; Eosinophil cationic protein

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Child*
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Humans
Inflammation
Leukotriene B4
Methacholine Chloride
Physiology
Respiratory Function Tests
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Leukotriene B4
Methacholine Chloride

Figure

  • Fig. 1 (A) Comparison of concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in exhaled breath condensate between asthma and control groups. LTB4 in asthma group (mean±standard deviation [SD], 7.1±3.7 pg/mL) was significantly higher than control group (mean±SD, 2.2±1.7 pg/mL) (P=0.03). (B) Comparison of concentrations of serum LTB4 between asthma and control groups. There was no significant difference between two groups (P=0.156).

  • Fig. 2 Correlations between the concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and in serum. No significant correlations were shown between concentrations of LTB4 in EBC and in serum (r=0.052, P=0.758).

  • Fig. 3 (A) Comparison of concentrations of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) between asthma and control groups. There was no significant difference between two groups (P=0.419). (B) Comparison of concentrations of serum ECP between asthma and control groups. Serum concentration of ECP in asthma group (mean±standard deviation [SD], 44.37±32.14 µg/L) was significantly higher than control group (mean±SD, 16.40±13.23 µg/L) (P=0.01).


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