Introduction: In former studies an elevation of hydrogen peroxide and/or lactate in breath condensate
due to pulmonary inflammation has been reported. A reduction of H2O2 due to anti inflammatory treatment in exacerbated COPD was also observed.
Methods: The new ECoScreen 2 enables the fractionated collection of breath condensate into
disposable bags. The system has the capability to discard air from mouth cavity and
a pre-selected part from air stream from sampling.
Results: In 30 healthy volunteers and 9 untreated patients with exacerbated COPD and/or asthma
and 11 patients with anti inflammatory treatment, fractionated EBC was collected.
Using capnovolumetry, the dead space volumes of volunteers were determined and the
sampling of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) adjusted to the individual's dead space
volume. EBC from the dead space volume was sampled in the first collection bag; the
remaining volume was directed into the second bag. H2O2 and Lactate was determined by ECoCheck in all samples by highly sensitive and specific
biosensors.
Fig.1: Amount of markers in bronchial air (gray) and alveolar air (dark), standardized for
exhaled volume.
Discussion: A marked difference in exhalation of H2O2 and lactate in EBC from bronchial tree and that of the alveolar space could be demonstrated.
The concentrations in bronchial air were up to ten times higher than that from the
alveolar space. Nevertheless alveolar air had to pass the bronchial tree during exhalation!
The fractionated collection of breath condensate provides the opportunity to differentiate
between sites of pulmonary release for different EBC markers.
Ref.: Bachelor Thesis Katja Schulze, TFH Wildau: “Lokalisierung der Herkunft des Entzündungsmarkers
H2O2 in der Lunge durch fraktionierte Sammlung des Atemkondensates
