Urine desmosine is unrelated to cigarette smoking or to spirometric function

We measured urine desmosine by radioimmunoassay in 157 subjects. Desmosine excretion (expressed as desmosine/creatinine ratio) did not correlate with ventilatory function (assessed by spirometry) or with current smoking status or total lifetime cigarette consumption. We conclude that measurement of urine desmosine may not be useful as an indirect measurement of elastolysis in cigarette smokers.