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Hydrogen peroxide in exhaled breath condensate in asthmatic children during acute exacerbation and after treatment

Carlo Caffarelli1, Elena Calcinai, Laura Rinaldi

  • 1UO Clinica Pediatrica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Parma, Via Gramsci 14 IT-43100 Parma, Italy. carlo.caffarelli@unipr.it

Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|September 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with asthma exacerbation have elevated hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Treatment did not significantly alter these H(2)O(2) levels or correlate with lung function improvements.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Biochemistry of Respiratory Diseases
  • Biomarkers of Airway Inflammation

Background:

  • Elevated hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is observed in asthmatic individuals.
  • H(2)O(2) levels in EBC correlate with airway inflammation in asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if H(2)O(2) levels in EBC of children with acute asthma exacerbation are affected by treatment.
  • To determine the relationship between exhaled H(2)O(2) and airway obstruction in pediatric asthma patients.

Main Methods:

  • Compared EBC H(2)O(2) concentrations in 22 asthmatic children and 12 healthy controls before and after asthma treatment.
  • Utilized spirometry and skin prick tests in asthmatic children and controls.
  • Assessed clinical observations alongside H(2)O(2) measurements.

Main Results:

  • Exhaled H(2)O(2) was significantly higher in asthmatic children versus controls, both before and after treatment.
  • Post-treatment H(2)O(2) levels remained elevated in asthmatic children, irrespective of wheezing presence.
  • No significant correlation was found between EBC H(2)O(2) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).

Conclusions:

  • Children with acute asthma exacerbation exhibit significantly elevated EBC H(2)O(2) levels.
  • Short-term follow-up shows persistent high H(2)O(2) levels post-treatment.
  • Exhaled H(2)O(2) does not appear to correlate with lung function or symptom improvement in the short term.
Abstract

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