Hydrogen peroxide in exhaled air is increased in stable asthmatic children

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 519 - 521
• Main Authors: Jobsis, Q, Raatgeep, HC, Hermans, PW, de Jongste, JC
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Eur Respiratory Soc 01-03-1997; Maney
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Asthmatic Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Breath Tests; Case-Control Studies; Child; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Steroids; Human; Expired air; Respiratory disease; Lung; Biological marker; Exploration; Inflammation; Hydrogen Peroxides; Asthma; Assay; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Gas exchange; Child
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.97.10030519

Exhaled air condensate provides a noninvasive means of obtaining samples from the lower respiratory tract. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in exhaled air has been proposed as a marker of airway inflammation. We hypothesized that in stable asthmatic children the H2O2 concentration in exhaled air condensate may be elevated as a result of airway inflammation. In a cross-sectional study, 66 allergic asthmatic children (of whom, 41 were treated with inhaled steroids) and 21 healthy controls exhaled through a cold trap. The resulting condensate was examined fluorimetrically for the presence of H2O2. All subjects were clinically stable, nonsmokers, without infection. The median H2O2 level in the exhaled air condensate of the asthmatic patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls (0.60 and 0.15 micromol, respectively; p<0.05), largely because of high values in the stable asthmatic children who did not use anti-inflammatory treatment (0.8 micromol; p<0.01 compared to controls). We conclude that hydrogen peroxide is elevated in exhaled air condensate of children with stable asthma, and may reflect airway inflammation.