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Updated: May 22, 2026

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery
06:09

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery

Published on: February 14, 2019

Exhaled breath condensate purines correlate with lung function in infants and preschoolers

Kavita Patel1, Stephanie D Davis, Robin Johnson

  • 1Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|May 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) purines, like adenosine (Ado) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP), can be safely measured in young children. The EBC AMP/Ado ratio shows potential as a non-invasive marker for monitoring airway inflammation in pediatric respiratory diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Airway inflammation is an early characteristic of pediatric chronic respiratory diseases.
  • Current assessment methods are invasive and carry significant risks for young children.
  • Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) offers a potential less invasive alternative for monitoring airway inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish the feasibility and utility of measuring EBC purine biomarkers in preschool children.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of EBC collection during infant pulmonary function tests (iPFTs).
  • To explore the correlation between EBC biomarkers and infant lung function measures.

Main Methods:

  • EBC was collected from children under 3 years old with lung diseases during iPFTs.
  • Adenosine (Ado) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) concentrations were measured using mass spectrometry.
  • The AMP to Ado ratio (AMP/Ado) was analyzed in relation to lung function parameters.

Main Results:

  • EBC was successfully collected from 15 out of 17 preschool children without significant changes in vital signs.
  • EBC Ado and AMP were measurable in most samples, including those from children with cystic fibrosis (CF).
  • The EBC AMP/Ado ratio showed significant correlations with measures of infant lung function (FEV0.5 and RV/TLC).

Conclusions:

  • EBC collection and analysis are safe and feasible in preschool children using standard equipment.
  • The EBC AMP/Ado ratio may serve as a valuable, less invasive tool for assessing airway inflammation in this population.
  • This method holds promise for improved monitoring of pediatric respiratory conditions like CF.
Abstract

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