RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in EBC of asthmatic children JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P1098 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Silvia Carraro A1 Iole Maria Di Gangi A1 Giorgio Piacentini A1 Ahmad Kantar A1 Serena Moser A1 Laura Cesca A1 Mariangela Berardi A1 Giuseppe Giordano A1 Eugenio Baraldi YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1098.abstract AB Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). ADMA contribution to airway inflammation, oxidative stress, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and collagen deposition, suggests a role for this mediator in asthma pathogenesis (Sott JA, AJRCCM 2011). Aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of ADMA measurement in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and to compare the levels of this mediator in asthmatic and healthy children.We recruited 60 children (5-17y) with well-controlled asthma and 64 healthy children (5-14y) who underwent spirometry and EBC collection. In a subgroup of asthmatic children serum ADMA levels and FENO levels were measured. EBC was collected using the Turbo-Deccs (Medivac, Parma, Italy). ADMA measures were performed by UPLC-MS/MS.ADMA was measured in EBC with a good reproducibility (evaluated by analyzing 2 samples collected 24h apart in 8 subjects). ADMA EBC levels were significantly higher (p<0.001) in asthmatic children (2.2 pmol/ml [IQR 1.2 − 3.7]) than in healthy controls (1.1 pmol/ml [IQR 0.8−1.6]). In asthmatic children, no correlation was found between serum and EBC ADMA levels (p=0.45, r=0.36). No correlation was found between EBC ADMA levels and FENO values or spirometric parameters.In the present study for the first time ADMA was measured in EBC. We found increased ADMA levels in asthmatic children, supporting a role for this mediator in asthma pathogenesis. Moreover, the lack of correlation with serum levels suggests that EBC ADMA specifically mirrors lung pathological processes. We speculate that ADMA could be a possible target for new therapeutic strategies in asthma.