Premium
Longitudinal monitoring of pediatric cystic fibrosis lung disease using nitrite in exhaled breath condensate
Author(s) -
Horak F.,
Moeller A.,
Singer F.,
Straub D.,
Höller B.,
Helbich T.H.,
Schneider B.,
Eichler I.,
Wildhaber J.H.,
Hall G.L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.20719
Subject(s) - medicine , spirometry , cystic fibrosis , exhaled breath condensate , asthma , sputum , gastroenterology , airway , exhaled nitric oxide , chest radiograph , respiratory disease , lung , air trapping , pathology , surgery , tuberculosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by airway inflammation and airway infection. Nitrites in exhaled breath condensate (EBC‐NO 2 − ) have been shown to be increased in children and adults with CF compared to healthy controls suggesting its use as a measure of airway inflammation. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate if repeated measurements of EBC‐NO 2 −are helpful in monitoring CF lung disease activity in children. Thirty‐two children with mild CF lung disease (age 10.6 ± 3.3 years) were recruited in two study centers. Follow‐up visits occurred every 3 months over a period of 1 year with a total of five visits. Each visit included a clinical assessment incorporating a modified Shwachman–Kulczycki (SK) score, spirometry, an oropharyngeal swab, or sputum sample for bacterial analysis and an EBC sample analyzed for NO 2 −using a spectrophotometric assay. Furthermore at the first and the last visit a chest radiograph was done and scored (Chrispin–Norman (CN) score). There was no correlation of EBC‐NO 2 −and parameters of spirometry, SK‐score, or CN‐score. Furthermore, increased EBC‐NO 2 −levels did not predict subsequent pulmonary exacerbations. We conclude that repeated measurements of EBC‐NO 2 −are not helpful in the longitudinal monitoring of mild CF lung disease in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:1198–1206. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.