G. Becher et al., LEUKOTRIENE B-4 IN BREATHING CONDENSATE OF PATIENTS WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DISEASES AND OF NORMAL-PATIENTS, ACP. Applied cardiopulmonary pathophysiology, 5(4), 1995, pp. 215-219
The aim of the study was to validate a method for collection of non-vo
latile substances from the exhalation. These exhaled non-volatile subs
tances were collected in a special breathing condensate (BCO) set-up,
patent pending. We developed equipment used to prevent any altering ef
fect on the biochemical properties of the specimens. The method was te
sted on healthy volunteers and patients with inflammatory airway disea
ses e.g. asthmatics. Especially mediators released by inflammatory cel
ls into the airways were detected and quantified in exhalation. The am
ount of exhaled LTB4 strongly correlated with the clinical stage of br
onchial asthma, i.e. the degree of airway inflammation. In contrast, n
o correlation was found between exhaled LTB(4) and FEV(1). Other media
tors, proteins, peptides, amino acids, phospholipids and smaller molec
ules were detectable in breathing condensate in previous pilot tests.
BCO collection and biochemical analysis is well-suited for use as a di
agnostic tool in inflammatory airway conditions.