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Indirect monitoring of lung inflammation

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 1, pages 238–242 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

The assessment of airway inflammation by non-invasive methods could provide a signal to start anti-inflammatory treatment before the onset of symptoms and the impairment of lung function. It could also be useful in the follow-up of patients with lung disease, and for guiding drug treatment. Measuring inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate is potentially the easiest way to quantify lung inflammation. The clinical applicability of this method could facilitate the practice of respiratory medicine.

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Figure 1: Biomarkers of airway inflammation.
Figure 2: Schematic representation of EBC collecting systems.

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Acknowledgements

P.M. is the recipient of a Research Fellowship from the National Research Council of Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F. Vito, Rome, 1-00168, Italy

    Paolo Montuschi

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  1. Paolo Montuschi
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DATABASES

LocusLink

albumin

amylase

COX

interleukin-1β

interleukin-8

MPO

NOS

SOD

tumour-necrosis factor-α

FURTHER INFORMATION

asthma

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Montuschi, P. Indirect monitoring of lung inflammation. Nat Rev Drug Discov 1, 238–242 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd751

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