Content of markers of respiratory tract remodeling in exhaled breath condensate in children suffering from bronchial asthma

Background: This study investigated to detect the content of remodeling markers of the respiratory tract in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of children with bronchial asthma (BA). Materials and Methods: The study was in clinical groups of children with BA were formed on the indices in sputum supernatant: the Group I - “a high risk group” of bronchial remodeling (37 patients with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) more than 80 ng/ml, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) more than 5.2 ng/ml), the Group II - “a moderate risk” of bronchial remodeling (41 patients with VEGF more than 80 ng/ml, and MMP-9 <5.2 ng/ml, or VEGF <80 ng/ml, and MMP-9 more than 5.2 ng/ml), the Group III - “a low risk” of bronchial remodeling (38 patients with VEGF did not achieve 80 ng/ml, and MMP-9 <5.2 ng/ml). Results: The results obtained enable to believe that in EBC of children with a high risk of bronchial remodeling was higher azoalbumin olysis (1.8 ml/h comparison of Group II - 1.5 ml/h, P = 0.038, and Group III - 1.4 ml/h, P = 0.007), high catalase activity (81.26 comparison of other group - 50.7, P = 0.06, and 47.07, P = 0.052 μmol/min/mg of protein). Furthermore, in the clinical Group I, the content of nitrogen monoxide metabolites (53.5 mcmol/L) comparison of Group II of children (48.7 mcmol/L, P = 0.28) and the Group III (41.7 mcmol/L, P = 0.085). Conclusions: In children with a “high risk” of respiratory tract remodeling more significant inflammatory process in the bronchi is found than in children with a “low risk.