BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that the periphery of the lung is the major site of inflammation in asthma. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) and 8-isoprostane have been proposed as biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. We therefore hypothesised that small airway dysfunction in asthma is of inflammatory origin that can be detected by molecular markers in exhaled air. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship of Feno and 8-isoprostane in exhaled air with small airways function as assessed by the single breath nitrogen test. METHODS: Sixteen patients (14 women) with mild atopic asthma (forced expiratory volume in 1 second >80% predicted) of mean (SD) age 23.0 (5.5) years participated in a cross sectional study. Feno was recorded by chemiluminescence and 8-isoprostane was measured by ELISA in concentrated exhaled breath condensate. The slope of phase III (deltaN2) and the closing volume (CV) were assessed from the single breath washout curve. RESULTS: The median Feno level was 30.4 ppb (range 10.1-82.8), the median 8-isoprostane concentration in exhaled breath condensate was 2.2 pg/ml (range 1.6-2.7), and the mean (SD) deltaN2 value was 1.1 (0.4)% N2/l. Feno was positively associated with deltaN2 (r(s) = 0.54, p = 0.032) while 8-isoprostane was inversely correlated with FEV1% predicted (rs= -0.58; p = 0.017) and CV as a percentage of vital capacity (rs= 0.58; p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Feno and 8-isoprostane in exhaled air are associated with small airways function in mild asthma. This suggests that these markers reflect small airway inflammation and favours a role for them as disease markers that is complementary to spirometry in the monitoring of patients with asthma.
BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that the periphery of the lung is the major site of inflammation in asthma. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) and 8-isoprostane have been proposed as biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. We therefore hypothesised that small airway dysfunction in asthma is of inflammatory origin that can be detected by molecular markers in exhaled air. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship of Feno and 8-isoprostane in exhaled air with small airways function as assessed by the single breath nitrogen test. METHODS: Sixteen patients (14 women) with mild atopic asthma (forced expiratory volume in 1 second >80% predicted) of mean (SD) age 23.0 (5.5) years participated in a cross sectional study. Feno was recorded by chemiluminescence and 8-isoprostane was measured by ELISA in concentrated exhaled breath condensate. The slope of phase III (deltaN2) and the closing volume (CV) were assessed from the single breath washout curve. RESULTS: The median Feno level was 30.4 ppb (range 10.1-82.8), the median 8-isoprostane concentration in exhaled breath condensate was 2.2 pg/ml (range 1.6-2.7), and the mean (SD) deltaN2 value was 1.1 (0.4)% N2/l. Feno was positively associated with deltaN2 (r(s) = 0.54, p = 0.032) while 8-isoprostane was inversely correlated with FEV1% predicted (rs= -0.58; p = 0.017) and CV as a percentage of vital capacity (rs= 0.58; p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS:Feno and 8-isoprostane in exhaled air are associated with small airways function in mild asthma. This suggests that these markers reflect small airway inflammation and favours a role for them as disease markers that is complementary to spirometry in the monitoring of patients with asthma.
Authors: R Dworski; J J Murray; L J Roberts; J A Oates; J D Morrow; L Fisher; J R Sheller Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 1999-12 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: F L Ricciardolo; M C Timmers; P Geppetti; A van Schadewijk; J J Brahim; J K Sont; H W de Gouw; P S Hiemstra; J H van Krieken; P J Sterk Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2001-08 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Michael R Simon; Vernon M Chinchilli; Brenda R Phillips; Christine A Sorkness; Robert F Lemanske; Stanley J Szefler; Lynn Taussig; Leonard B Bacharier; Wayne Morgan Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2010-07-16 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Yvonne Nussbaumer-Ochsner; Jan Stolk; Luiz F Ferraz da Silva; Annemarie van Schadewijk; Ronald C de Jeu; Frans A Prins; Thais Mauad; Klaus F Rabe; Pieter S Hiemstra Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-12 Impact factor: 3.240