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Elevated nitrite in breath condensates of children with respiratory disease
W Formanek1, D Inci, R P Lauener
1Dept of Respiratory Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Insights
Children with asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) show higher nitrite levels in exhaled breath, indicating airway inflammation. This simple test may help assess respiratory conditions in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Airway inflammation is a key feature of pediatric respiratory diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF).
- Biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) offer a non-invasive method for assessing airway inflammation.
- Nitrite levels in EBC have been explored as a potential indicator of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in exhaled breath condensate nitrite concentrations among children with asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF), nonasthmatic episodic cough, and healthy controls.
- To evaluate the utility of EBC nitrite as a marker for airway inflammation in pediatric respiratory conditions.
Main Methods:
- Breath condensates were collected from 66 children (aged 3.1-16 years) across four groups: asthma, stable CF, nonasthmatic cough, and healthy volunteers.
- Nitrite concentrations in the collected EBC were quantified colorimetrically using the Griess reaction.
Main Results:
- Children with CF (median 2.02 microM) and asthma (median 2.10 microM) exhibited significantly higher EBC nitrite levels compared to healthy subjects (median 0.41 microM) and those with nonasthmatic cough (median 0.75 microM).
- Elevated nitrite levels in EBC were significantly associated with asthma and CF (p<0.05).
- No significant difference in nitrite levels was observed between healthy children and those with nonasthmatic episodic cough.
Conclusions:
- Elevated nitrite levels in exhaled breath condensate are indicative of airway inflammation in children with asthma and cystic fibrosis.
- Nitrite measurement in EBC is a convenient, cost-effective, and rapid method suitable for assessing airway inflammation in children as young as 3 years.
- EBC nitrite holds promise as a diagnostic tool for pediatric respiratory diseases.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to determine the differences in nitrite, in the exhaled breath condensates of healthy children and those children with asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF) and nonasthmatic, episodic cough. Breath condensates were obtained from 66 children (43 males:23 females, 3.1-16 yrs) and included 29 asthmatics, 12 clinically stable CF patients, 12 children with cough but not asthma and 13 healthy volunteers. The collected condensate was assayed colourimetrically using the Griess reaction to determine nitrite concentrations. Patients with CF (median: 5-95% percentiles; 2.02: 0.43-6.37 microM) or asthma (2.10: 0.63-5.45 microM) had significantly higher levels of nitrite compared to healthy subjects (0.41: 0.13-1.83 microM; p<0.05) or subjects with cough (0.75: 0.03-1.75 microM; p<0.05). Airway inflammation, as assessed by the nitrite in breath condensates, is present in children with asthma and cystic fibrosis, but not those children with nonasthmatic, episodic cough. Nitrite can be conveniently, cheaply and rapidly measured in breath condensates of children as young as 3 yrs of age, and may prove useful for the assessment of airway inflammation in children with respiratory disease.