RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Lactate, pH and angiogenetic markers in exhaled breath condensate correlate with outcome and disease severity in patients with acute lung injury JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 1688 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Christian Gessner A1 Benedikt Malmann A1 Hartmut Kuhn A1 Peter Ruschpler A1 Lothar Engelamnn A1 Stefan Hammerschmidt A1 Ulrich Sack A1 Hubert Wirtz YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1688.abstract AB Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by increased capillary permeability, interstitial and alveolar oedema, influx of circulating inflammatory cells, and formation of hyaline membranes. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been correlated to a favourite prognosis in ARDS in a number of investigations. VEGF plays a role in regulating vascular permeability to water and protein.The aim of this investigation was to characterize the role of VEGF, Angiogenin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), IL-8, and TNF-alpha, lactate and pH in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in mechanical ventilated patients with acute lung injury. For this purpose, exhaled breath condensate was collected from 30 patients with ALI at 24 to 72 hours from start of mechanical ventilation and correlated with ventilatory parameters, clinical scores, and outcome. Cytokines were measured by a cytometric bead array assay (CBA).We observed a significant lower value of VEGF in EBC in the group with lethal outcome compared to survival group (median:32.4 pg/ml vs. 108 pg/ml in survivors.; Mann-Whitney test: p<0.0001) but no significant difference for Angiogenin, bFGF, IL-8, or TNF-alpha. In addtion EBC-lactate and EBC-pH correlated with lung injury severity indices. There was a further correlation of bFGF and IL-8 in EBC with lung injury severity indices.We conclude that measurement of lactate, pH, bFGF, and VEGF in EBC may provide information on prognosis in ALI.