TY - JOUR T1 - Is analysis of exhaled breath condensate equivalent to that of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p476 AU - Kunihiko Nakamura AU - Megumi Mikuniya AU - Shingo Takanashi AU - Akihito Hayashi AU - Takeshi Morimoto AU - Kageaki Taima AU - Ken Okumura Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p476.abstract N2 - Background: Although the analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is the most useful examination for the assessment of airway inflammatory markers, it is an invasive technique with limitations and risks for side effects.Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the molecules included in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in comparison with BALF, and to clarify the clinical usability of EBC.Methods: EBC was collected from sixteen subjects suspected to have sarcoidosis just before BAL. The 40 different inflammatory molecules in EBC and BALF were analyzed with a protein array method.Results: BALF levels of 6 inflammatory molecules including soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (sTNF-RII) and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) were significantly correlated with the percentage of lymphocyte in BALF (%Lym). EBC levels of 13 inflammatory molecules including sTNF-RII and RANTES were significantly correlated with%Lym. We found significant correlations between the levels of EBC and BALF in 16 out of 40 inflammatory molecules. Levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), RANTES, TNF-α and sTNF-RII in EBC were significantly correlated with those in BALF. Their levels in EBC and BALF also were correlated with%Lym.Conclusion: Highly sensitive approach to protein array in EBC allowed us to detect inflammatory molecules. Comprehensive analysis of EBC might be equivalent to that of BALF. ER -