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Thorax 55:138-142 doi:10.1136/thorax.55.2.138
  • Original article

Increase in exhaled carbon monoxide during exacerbations of cystic fibrosis

  1. Julio D Antunia,
  2. Sergei A Kharitonova,
  3. Derralynn Hughesb,
  4. Margaret E Hodsonb,
  5. Peter J Barnesa
  1. aDepartment of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of Medicine, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK, bRoyal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK
  1. Professor P J Barnes.
  • Received 11 March 1999
  • Revision requested 20 May 1999
  • Revised 6 October 1999
  • Accepted 8 October 1999

Abstract

BACKGROUND Non-invasive assessment of inflammation is likely to be useful in the management of cystic fibrosis (CF). Exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations are increased in patients with clinically stable CF. A study was undertaken to determine whether this marker of oxidative damage is further increased during exacerbations of the disease.

METHODS Exhaled CO concentrations were measured in 12 healthy non-smoking control subjects (six men) of mean (SE) age 37 (2) years with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 95 (1)% predicted and in 44 patients with CF (20 men) of mean (SE) age 29 (1) years with FEV1 56 (3)% predicted using an on-line CO analyser.

RESULTS Twenty nine patients were in a stable condition while 15 had clinically defined respiratory exacerbations (increased cough and production of sputum, change in the quality of the sputum, shortness of breath, sensation of chest congestion, and deterioration of FEV1) and represented the unstable group. Exhaled CO concentrations were 2.0 (0.15) ppm in the control group, were increased in the stable CF group to 2.7 (0.13) ppm (differences between means –0.67 (0.22), 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22 to 1.12, p<0.01) and further increased in the unstable group to 4.8 (0.3) ppm (differences between means –2.15 (0.32), 95% CI 1.50 to 2.79, p<0.001). A significant correlation was found between the deterioration in FEV1 and exhaled CO concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the measurement of exhaled CO is of potential value as an indicator of exacerbations in patients with CF and could be used as a simple method to monitor the course of the disease.

Footnotes