What is it about?
Infiltration of inflammatory cells in bronchial mucosa and also glandular hypersecretion are hallmarks of asthma. It has been postulated that exhaled breath condensate (EBC) mirrors events in epithelial lining fluid of airways, such as presence of local inflammation as well as glandular hypersecretion. EBC and serum were collected from twenty-three patients with allergic asthma during a pollen season and repeated five months later during a period with no aeroallergens. Chlorine and serum ECP was measured and lung function tests were performed and symptoms noted during both occasions. It is concluded that chlorine in EBC and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum decreased significantly after season, and this is suggested to mirror the decrement in airborne antigen.
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Why is it important?
It is concluded that the present finding of an association between levels of chlorine in EBC and responses to pollen exposure in allergic asthma patients is an interesting observation. It is tempting to speculate that this may represent a future and sensitive tool for mechanistic studies or to monitor activity of bronchial diseases, such as allergic asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during exacerbations.
Perspectives
We found a post-season decline in serum ECP even though there was no any statistically significant post-seasonal improvement in lung function. Probably there was sufficient pollen exposure to cause priming and release of ECP through circulating eosinophils as a result of various inflammatory cells in the respiratory tract, which also stimulates bronchial liver to excrete chlorine.
Anette B Davidsson
Department of Medical and Health Sciences
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This page is a summary of: Chlorine in Breath Condensate – A Measure of Airway Affection in Pollinosis?, Respiration, February 2006, Karger Publishers,
DOI: 10.1159/000091300.
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