Hydrogen peroxide in expired breath condensate of patients with acute respiratory failure and with ARDS.
OBJECTIVE
Measurement of hydrogen peroxide concentrations in breath condensate of mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS and with risk factors for developing ARDS.


METHODS
Open study in intensive care patients.


METHODS
Intensive care units of the Clinics of the University of Göttingen, a primary care center.


METHODS
10 post-operatively ventilated patients as a control group and 26 patients with acute respiratory failure, 7 of them with ARDS, 12 with polytrauma, 4 with pneumonia, 3 with cardiogenic or nephrogenic pulmonary edema.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Breath condensate was collected by a special cold trap and was analysed for H2O2 by a chemiluminescence method. Daily measurements were performed for 4.2 +/- 2.6 days (mean +/- SD) as soon as possible after manifestation of respiratory failure.


RESULTS
Patients with acute respiratory failure exhibited higher H2O2 concentrations than control patients (median 95 nmol/l, range 76-144 nmol/l), with the highest median value found in the ARDS group (552 nmol/l, range 154-893). After clinical improvement, H2O2 concentrations decreased to the range of the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Since high concentrations of H2O2 in breath condensate were only found in patients with ARDS or with risk factors for ARDS, the results add to the existing evidence that reactive oxygen species are associated with some acute lung diseases.
Kietzmann
D
D
Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Kahl
R
R
Müller
M
M
Burchardi
H
H
Kettler
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013990:Tidal Volume
D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide