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Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cyanide accumulation and lung function in CF and non-CF bronchiectasis patients

¹ Dept of Life Sciences, Division of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, ² Dept of Gene Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, and ³ Host Defence Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK.

CORRESPONDENCE: H. D. Williams, Dept of Life Sciences, Division of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. Fax: 44 2075842056. E-mail: h.d.williams{at}imperial.ac.uk

Keywords: Airway inflammation, asthma, hyperresponsiveness, lung function, noninvasive markers, rhinovirus

Received: November 26, 2007
Accepted April 21, 2008

In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most important respiratory pathogen. It is able to synthesise hydrogen cyanide, a potent inhibitor of cellular respiration.

The present study investigated whether cyanide is present in the sputum of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis patients infected with P. aeruginosa, and whether the detection of cyanide affected lung function. Cyanide was measured in sputum using a cyanide ion selective electrode.

Cyanide was detected in sputum from 15 out of 25 CF and non-CF bronchiectasis patients with current P. aeruginosa infection; however, it was not detected in any of the 10 patients without this organism. Maximum levels were 130 µM (mean±SE 72±6.6 µM). Concurrent lung function data were available on all 21 P. aeruginosa-infected CF patients; the group with measurable sputum cyanide (n = 11) was not different from those without (n = 10) on the basis of age or sex. However, those with detectable cyanide had significantly poorer lung function than those without (forced expiratory volume in one second (% predicted) 26.8±3.8 versus 46.0±6.7%; forced vital capacity (% pred) 44.4±4.9 versus 60.1±7.7%).

Cyanide is detectable in sputum from cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and is also associated with impaired lung function.

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