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Prostaglandin E₂ in the expired breath condensate of patients with asthma

Pneumonology and Clinical Research Dept, Athens Army General Hospital, Athens, Greece

CORRESPONDENCE: S. Loukides, Smolika 2 16673, Voula Athens, Greece. Fax: 32 106914312. E-mail: ssat@hol.gr

Keywords: asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, exhaled breath condensate, prostaglandin E₂

Received: January 3, 2003
Accepted June 3, 2003

Inhaled prostaglandin (PG)E₂ has been found to cause bronchodilation in asthmatics, although it does not have bronchodilative effects in normal subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of PGE₂ in the expired breath condensate of patients with asthma, the possible contribution of smoking habit to its levels and the possible relationship between PGE₂ and the degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, as assessed by the provocation dose of histamine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) (PD₂₀).

A total of 30 mild asthmatics (15 smokers, all steroid-naive, FEV₁ 88±6 (%±sd)) and 20 healthy control subjects (10 smokers) were studied. Histamine challenge testing was performed in all subjects and the PD₂₀ was determined.

The results showed that asthmatic smokers had significantly higher values of PGE₂ compared to asthmatic nonsmokers and control subjects (40±21 versus 14.5±4.5 versus 11.7±3 pg·mL^–1, respectively). Further analysis showed that PGE₂ levels were significantly higher in asthmatic smokers compared to smoker and nonsmoker controls (40±21 versus 11.6±2 versus 11.7±4 pg·mL^–1, respectively). No significant difference was observed between asthmatic nonsmokers and both control smokers and control nonsmokers. No significant correlation was found between PGE₂ levels and PD₂₀ in all groups of asthmatics, irrespective of smoking habit.

In conclusion, the elevation of prostaglandin E₂ in the expired breath condensate of patients with asthma is mainly attributed to smoking habit and prostaglandin E₂ levels do not predict the degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

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