Is oxidative stress reduced as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation resolves?
Abstract
The aim was to find out whether oxidative stress is reduced after resolution of even severe exacerbations requiring hospitalization. For the assessment, three substances participating in oxidative stress were selected - nitrites (NO2-) and nitrates (N03-), i.e. substances produced by conversion from nitric oxide (NO), and malondialde-hyde, a product of lipid peroxidation.
Concentrations of NO2- and NO3- were measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collected using the EcoScreen device (VIASYS HealthCare GmbH, Hoechberg, Germany). The group comprised 29 persons, 18 (62.1 %) males and 11 (37.9 %) females hospitalized for a COPD exacerbation.
The median concentrations on admission and at discharge were as follows: 5.11 and 6.58 for NO2- (μmol/1), 42.3 and 53.0 for NO3-" (nmol/1) and 30.5 and 17.7 for malondialdehyde (nmol/1), respectively. In none of the studied parameters, a significant decrease was observed.
The results suggest that despite significant resolution of bronchial obstruction in patients hospitalized for a COPD exacerbation, oxidative stress parameters (NO2-, NO3- and malondialdehyde) are not reduced.