Research
Effects of salbutamol on exhaled breath condensate biomarkers in acute lung injury: prospective analysis
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* Corresponding author: Oriol Roca 36416org@comb.es
1 Intensive Care Department (General Area), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, C.P. 08035 Barcelona, Spain
2 Pulmonology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Pg. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, C.P. 08035 Barcelona, Spain
3 Ciber Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES). Carretera de Sóller Km.12-Fundació Caubet-Cimera, C.P. 07110, Bunyola (Mallorca), Spain
4 Unit of Critical Care, Royal Brompton Campus, Imperial College London, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, UK
Critical Care 2008, 12:R72 doi:10.1186/cc6911
Published: 30 May 2008Abstract
Introduction
The benefits of β-adrenergic stimulation have been described in acute lung injury (ALI), but there is still no evidence of its anti-inflammatory effect in these patients. Biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were used to study the effects of salbutamol on lung inflammation in mechanically ventilated patients with ALI.
Methods
EBC was collected before and 30 minutes after administration of inhaled salbutamol (800 μg). The following parameters were measured in the samples: volume obtained, conductivity, pH after helium deaeration, and concentration of nitrites, nitrates and 8-isoprostane. The leukotriene B4 concentration was measured after sample lyophilization and reconstitution. Results are expressed as the median (interquartile range).
Results
EBC was obtained from six ALI patients, with a median age of 56 (46 to 76) years. At the time of EBC collection, the Lung Injury Score was 3 (2.3 to 3.1) and the PaO2/FIO2 ratio was 133 (96 to 211) mmHg. A significant increase in deaerated EBC pH was observed after salbutamol administration (7.66 (7.58 to 7.75) versus 7.83 (7.67 to 7.91), P = 0.028). Trends toward decreased nitrosative species (18.81 (13.33 to 49.44) μM versus 21.21 (8.07 to 29.83) μM, P = 0.173) and decreased 8-isoprostane concentration (11.64 (7.17 to 17.13) pg/ml versus 6.55 (4.03 to 9.99) pg/ml, P = 0.068) were detected. No changes in leukotriene B4 concentration were found (1.58 (0.47 to 3.57) pg/ml versus 2.06 (1.01 to 3.01) pg/ml, P = 0.753).
Conclusion
EBC analysis is a noninvasive technique that can be used to monitor ventilated patients. In EBC from a small cohort of patients with ALI, inhaled salbutamol significantly decreased airspace acidosis, a marker of inflammation, and was associated with a trend toward decreased markers of nitrosative and oxidative stress.