Occupational asthma follow-up — which markers are elevated in exhaled breath condensate and plasma?

Abstract

Objectives: To search for optimal markers in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC), plasma and urine that would reflect the activity/severity of occupational asthma (OA) after the withdrawal from the exposure to the allergen. Material and Methods: Markers of oxidative stress: 8-iso-prostaglandin F 2α (8-isoprostane, 8-ISO), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenale (HNE), cysteinyl leukotrienes (LT) and LTB 4 were determined using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry in 43 subjects with immunological OA (49.3±11.8 years), removed from the exposure to the sensitizing agent 10.5±6.5 years ago; and in 20 healthy subjects (49.0±14.9 years). EBC was harvested both before and after the methacholine challenge test. In parallel, identical markers were collected in plasma and urine. The results were analyzed together with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ), blood eosinophils, immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and statistically evaluated (Spearman rank correlation r S , two-or one-sample t tests and alternatively Kruskal Wallis or pair Wilcoxon tests). Results: Several parameters of lung functions were lower in the patients (FEV1% predicted, MEF25% and MEF50%, Rtot%, p < 0.001). Shorter time interval since the removal from the allergen exposure correlated with higher ECP (r S = 0.375) and lower FEV 1 %, MEF25% and MEF50% after methacholine challenge (r S = -0.404, -0.425 and -0.532, respectively). In the patients, IgE (p < 0.001) and ECP (p = 0.009) was increased compared to controls. In EBC, 8-ISO and cysteinyl LTs were elevated in the asthmatics initially and after the challenge. Initial 8-ISO in plasma correlated negatively with FEV 1 (r S = -0.409) and with methacholine PD 20 (r S = -0.474). 8-ISO in plasma after the challenge correlated with IgE (r S = 0.396). Conclusions:The improvement in OA is very slow and objective impairments persist years after removal from the exposure. Cysteinyl LTs and 8-ISO in EBC and 8-ISO in plasma might enrich the spectrum of useful objective tests for the follow-up of OA.

Three-Year Study of Markers of Oxidative Stress in Exhaled Breath Condensate in Workers Producing Nanocomposites, Extended by Plasma and Urine Analysis in Last Two Years

“…Oxidative stress has been associated with aging, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative, among other disorders [50]. In this study, the level of oxidative stress marker 8-OHG correlated with hypothyroidism treated with thyroxine.…”

“…This control subject had 3-NOTyr, MDA, 8-OHdG, and 5-OHMeU positively correlating with a cough, associated with newly appearing common cold symptoms. In the literature, the 3-NOTyr level was increased in patients with severe asthma, similarly to 8-isoprostane and further oxidative stress and inflammation EBC markers, such as leukotrienes C4-E4 [49,50].…”

Leukotrienes in exhaled breath condensate and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in workers exposed to TiO 2 nanoparticles

“…After inhalation in an experiment cysteinyl LTs constrict human airways with a thousand times greater potency than histamine [18]. They participate in the pathogenesis of asthma and have been studied in patients with occupational asthma [19][20][21][22].…”

Towards Reference Values for Malondialdehyde on Exhaled Breath Condensate: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The following supporting information can be downloaded at , Supplementary Table S1: Quality assessment criteria. References [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ] are cited in the supplementary materials.…”