Effects of inhaled steroid therapy on exhaled breath condensate and blood biomarkers in newly diagnosed smoker asthmatics

We aimed to demonstrate the inflammation with local and systemic mediators, pre and post treatment differences between smoker and nonsmoker asthmatics by measuring IL-6, LTB 4 , LTD 4 , 8-isoprostane in EBC (exhaled breath condensate) and blood. Nineteen newly diagnosed asthmatics' EBC and blood samples were taken, before and 3 months after treatment. ACT (asthma control test) was performed at third month control visit. IL-6, LTB 4 , LTD 4 , 8-isoprostane were measured in blood and EBC. Differences of these parameters between groups and the values before and after treatment were compared statistically. Ten (52,6%) were nonsmokers, 9(47,4%) patients were still smoking (more than 1 pack/year and less than 10pack/years). Pretreatment blood and EBC IL-6, LTB 4 , LTD 4 , 8-isoprostane levels were compared between smoker and nonsmoker patients, significant difference was not found (p>0,05). Mean ACT of nonsmokers was significantly higher than smokers (23±1,88 versus 19±3,46), (p<0,05). There was no significant difference between smoker and nonsmoker groups about changes at the levels of pre and post treatment blood IL-6, LTB 4 , LTD 4 , 8-isoprostane and EBC IL-6, LTB 4 , LTD 4 (p>0,05). The decrease of EBC 8-isoprostane levels was significantly higher at nonsmoker group (p<0,05). EBC IL-6 levels decreased after treatment, blood levels increased at smoking group, but it was not significant (p>0,05). EBC LTB 4 increased at smoking group after treatment, LTD 4 levels in blood increased in both groups, but statistical significance could not be found (p>0,05, p>0,05 ). It seems difficult to predict the response to treatment at smoker asthmatics with these biomarkers in the study.