The importance of determination of oxidative stress markers in exhaled breath condensate for the assessment of lung disease progression in patients with cystic fibrosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of oxidative stress (OS) marker s in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) to the severity of lung disease, nutritional status and systemic antioxidants and inflammatory markers, as well as to short - and medium - term development of pulmonary function and nutritional status, and finally to assess the response to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Methods: CF patients were examined in a stable phase of the disease during routine outpatient controls. EBC was collected using E C oScreen device (J aeger) in CF patients and in control group members. Nitrites and nitrates and 8 - isoprostane were examined using liquid chromatography and competitive enzyme immunoanalysis, respectively, in EBC as OS markers. Demographic data including the dominant pathogen of airway colonization and ICS treatment were recorded in CF patients. Lung function tests, chest X-ray s, nutritional statuses and systemic antioxidants and inflammatory markers were also examined using standard methods. The values of OS markers in EBC in patients with CF were compared with the control group and correlated to clinical parameters. Lung function tests and nutritional status es in CF patients were examined in one, three and five years intervals..