TY - JOUR T1 - Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in EBC of asthmatic children JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P1098 AU - Silvia Carraro AU - Iole Maria Di Gangi AU - Giorgio Piacentini AU - Ahmad Kantar AU - Serena Moser AU - Laura Cesca AU - Mariangela Berardi AU - Giuseppe Giordano AU - Eugenio Baraldi Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1098.abstract N2 - 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. ER -