Abstract
Introduction: Although analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is a useful examination to assess
airway inflammation, it is an invasive technique with limitation and risk of complications.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine molecules 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 by protein array.
Results: BALF levels of 6 molecules including soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (sTNF-RII) and
regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and EBC levels of 13 molecules
including sTNF-RII and RANTES were significantly correlated with percentage of lymphocyte in BALF (%Lym).
We found significant correlations between levels of EBC and BALF in 16 out of 40 molecules. Levels of macrophage
colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), RANTES, TNF-α and sTNF-RII in EBC were significantly correlated with BALF. Their levels in EBC and BALF also were correlated with %Lym.
Conclusion: Protein array, a highly sensitive approach allowed us to detect inflammatory molecules in EBC.
Comprehensive analysis of EBC might be an equivalent to that of BALF.
