Effects of breathing pattern and inspired air conditions on breath condensate volume, pH, nitrite, and protein concentrations.
BACKGROUND
The effects of breathing pattern and inspired air conditions on the volume and content of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were investigated.


METHODS
Total exhaled water (TEW), EBC volume, pH, nitrite and protein concentrations were measured in three groups of 10 healthy subjects breathing into a condenser at different target minute ventilations (Vm), tidal volumes (Vt), and inspired air conditions.


RESULTS
The volumes of both TEW and EBC increased significantly with Vm. For Vm 7.5, 15 and 22.5 l/min, mean (SD) EBC was 627 (258) microl, 1019 (313) microl, and 1358 (364) microl, respectively (p<0.001) and TEW was 1879 (378) microl, 2986 (496) microl, and 4679 (700) microl, respectively (p<0.001). TEW was significantly higher than EBC, reflecting a condenser efficiency of 40% at a target Vm of 7.5 l/min which reduced to 29% at Vm 22.5 l/min. Lower Vt gave less TEW than higher Vt (26.6 v 30.7 microl/l, mean difference 4.1 (95% CI 2.6 to 5.6), p<0.001) and a smaller EBC volume (4.3 v 7.6 microl/l, mean difference 3.4 (95% CI 2.3 to 4.5), p<0.001). Cooler and drier inspired air yielded less water vapour and less breath condensate than standard conditions (p<0.05). Changes in the breathing pattern had no effect on EBC protein and nitrite concentrations and pH.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that condensate volume can be increased by using high Vt and increased Vm without compromising the dilution of the sample.
McCafferty
J B
JB
Respiratory Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH2 4XU, UK. john.mccafferty@ed.ac.uk
Bradshaw
T A
TA
Tate
S
S
Greening
A P
AP
Innes
J A
JA
D001944:Breath Tests; D045853:Exhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013696:Temperature
D009573:Nitrites; D011506:Proteins